Yellow Norco 10 325 Discontinued

Updated

What the heck, guys?!?!?
I've been prescribed the yellow, oblong Norcos 10/325 for years and years now (several different illnesses\conditions).
All of a sudden I went to CVS and the pills they gave me were more or less, useless! They were white and smaller. They don't do anything to help my pain.
This sucks! I called CVS and they said that the FDA passed a law stating no more "Norco" could be sold due to the rampant over-abuse. Great. Thanks a lot for those of us who really, genuinely needed that ONE MED that really actually worked and helped. Because of pill-poppers and sellers, I can no longer get the one and only medication that helped me. This sucks. It's wrong. Really wrong. I don't take them to get any high. I take them to make it thru my day.
Anyone else experienced the notification of discontinuation of the Norco, yellow, oblongs? I usually use Express Scripts to fill my scripts, but on short notice, I use CVS. Sometimes it can take up to a month to receive a med, using Express Scripts.
I'm due for a refill. I'm thinking I should call my doctor's assistant and ask her to specifically write out the script for NORCO, instead of just '10/35'.
Anybody have any comments? Any help or suggestions?
THANKS and feel healthy, everyone!!!! <3

46 Replies (3 Pages)

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1

Hi Francessca. I too have been given the new white Norco and it is not the same. I am experiencing stomach pains, headaches, fuzzy eyesight, and extreme drowsiness. I called Walgreens and got a pathetic line about the dye being removed and there is no difference. I take the pills daily and I say there is a big difference. I am also in agreement with you that the "lay about pill poppers" abused our medication and we are paying the price. I cannot take these new pills and function. What's worse is they probably collect some type of welfare while you are I are going to work in pain on a daily basis.

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2

nore more could be sold?? WHAT??? they are useless and i have a dr appt today and do not know what to do i cant take this crap and no pharmacies here will fill anything like that i was lucky to find ONE nice pharmacist. can anyone help with what else to take similiar but that works for the pain?

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3

Hello,

I'm sorry to hear about the problems you are all experiencing with this new pill. You aren't the first to post with complaints about the new white tablet.

It sounds like you've all spoken with your pharmacy, but had no luck. Based on what I've read, it's likely that your pharmacist didn't have any other information for you, because so far all the available information about this new Watson pill claims the tablets as being identical and that they have only removed the dye that was in them. However, I have also read that they may have taken out a small amount of acetaminophen due to the fact it can cause liver damage. I'm not sure if that's true, but I suppose the truth will have to come out eventually!

I suggest trying a different brand, it seems as though some people have had success by doing so.

Here's a link to a thread that might be of help: Discuss/Watson-853-White-or-Yellow-Pill-246480.htm

Does anyone else have more information to share?

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4

This is sorta late answering your question about the brand Norco, but after 10 years of use for chronic pain I can assure you it is absolutely a difference if you are not getting Norco. My physician wrote for the name brand only. It is extremely expensive so all insurances companies want you to take Anything but this. Good luck to you and God Bless

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5

Their not discontinuing Norco..who said that? Watson got bought out by activas and they supposedly just took out the yellow dye..im in same situation..no other brands of it work AT ALL unless I take DOUBLE what I was prescribed. its ridiculous and sickening..im sure the fda and dea is in on this. that's why there hasn't been any recall..if I had the money to have this tested I would but the one place I found wants $400 to test it. cuz I am POSITIVE they only put maybe half or less mg of the hydrocodone in these. and that would be illegal but I don't have any money to spend.

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6

you get REFILLS ON NORCO? HOW??? that was made illegal in florida..I have been havng to pay $200 EVERY 28 DAYS FOR OVER A YEAR NOW just for Norco 4 a day r u on like 1 or 2 a day? is a pain management dr doing this or a primary care? you sure are lucky that's for damn sure

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7

if u have insurance and haven't been having to pay $350 a month for dr and meds you shouldn't be complaining. im about to be I withdrawal because of this crap. my pain dr doesn't care about people only about money and it is sickening. there are no primary care drs who will treat pain anymore in florida thanks to the dea

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8

Refills are allowed on Schedule III meds, but not on Schedule II meds. As of today, New York state is the only state where hydrocodone combination products are Schedule II, it was effective February 23, 2013. The other states are going by Federal Law which states hydrocodone combination products are Schedule III. BUT, with the recommendations of the FDA's REMS Committee on January 30, 2013, Federal Law is in the process of changing hydrocodone combination products to Schedule II for all the states. It will take a little time, but not much. Also with Schedule II, they cannot be called or faxed, they must be written and with no refills.

Did your doctor tell you that there were no refills on your Norco ?

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9

i was told by my dr AS WELL As my pharmacist refills are not allowed on Norco. you need a physical prescription I have emailed the fda the florida health dept and everyone has told me I must be seen every month to have this medication. my pharmacist also told me like my dr office did if you are prescribed a breakthrough med like Norco you MUST also be prescribed a long acting one like ms contin..which also requires to be seen monthly. but even without the ms contin I have been paying $200 a MONTH for over a year because they would not do any refills..this has been hell because I had to quit working last summer and every month to come up w this amount PLUS medication costs is ridiculous. I am about to be I withdrawal because now not only is this dr requiring to be seen every 28 DAYS an writing prescriptions for 28 days only, now also requiring complete blood counts evry 3 months!! ridiculous! these pos do not care about people obviously.

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10

i have severe neuropathy chronic pain from 2 failed back surgery since 2000 have been taking yellow Norco 10/325 for years 240 a month i do not believe the yellow dye is all that has changed these white what ever they are are not doing any thing for me make things worse called my pain management they offered me tramadol this makes no since im in a great deal of pain taking the white so called Norco

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11

I'm sorry to hear that!
Tramadol is child's play compared to yellow Norco!
My gosh - it's not even half of what Norco is!!!! Nor even half of a regular vicodin!
How dare they do this to you!!!!
I agree 100% that MORE is different than just the dye!
The white ones don't do jack. There is such a considerable difference!
Sure wish they would not screw around and take away the ONE medication that has changed my life considerably for the very best and has given me back a quality of life that enables me to live a fulfilling and engaging life w/out pain. Now they are taking that away. What will we do???? This is NOT fair!!!!

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12

no I go to pain management 4 times a year so I get 3 refills each time reg, md cant do that here in tx they cant give refills on norcos but now dosent matter if they did they don't work anyway now

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13

WOW WHAT A JOKE. MY PRIMARY CARE DR USED TO GIVE ME 3 REFILLS WHEN I WAS ON 2 VICODIN A DAY BUT SINCE HE MADE ME GO TO PAIN MANAGEMENT THEY MAKLE ME BE SEEN EVERY 28 DAYS ITS BS AND A JOKE.

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14

not complaining about the cost I do have insurance so that's not the problem the problem is Watson has changed the medication that helped me tolerate my pain nerve pain never stops hurting but I could at least get thru my day without suffering like I am now and they are not telling the truth about it just being the dye they removed

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15

I am in Texas and still able to get the yellow NARCO 10/325 I am wondering if this is going to be in effect here...

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16

Has anyone heard anything else about these white Watson 853 10/325? I posted a new thread today in the Norco forum but received no response. I am at a loss here. I have taken pain meds for 10+ yrs and have had every brand with not ONE issue before until I just got my monthly prescription yesterday and was given these. These things are absolute garbage. They are completely ineffective and I think we deserve answers. Nobody is going to look out for people who suffer in pain. They never have due to the stigma attached. It's up to us. We need to organize and do something about this. There is severe tort here on the manufacturer and we deserve answers and explanations. This is not psychosomatic.... There is something DEAD WRONG and people are ending up back in spirit crushing pain that these medications relieved.

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17

GOod luck! the only thing i tried was i found a place to test the garbage pills and would oftold us EXACTLY how much of what is in them but it cost $400 and i cant afford it. i have posted tons of messages contacted lawyers and the fda and NOTHING is or will be done until someone has these things tested as there is NO WAY IN HELL there is more then maybe 1mg of hydrodcodone in them walgreens started denying to fill my prescriptions and this new place charges DOUBLE almost $100 for ONE MONTH plus my dr costs $200 a month and they gfive me qualitest brand which are jUST AS BAD..worthless

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18

Jeremy, it's everywhere. If it hasn't affected you yet, it's just sheer luck. If you take a generic, irregardless of where you live, if it hasn't affected you it will soon.

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19

Where do you live in Texas and what pharmacy are you going to :)

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20

I just called actavis/watson and complained about the new white Norcos there TERRIBLE everyone should call and complain heres the number 1-800-272-5525 ext34399 im going to have to change my script if they dont change back I've been on the yellows for 10 years and now im in alot of pain with these white watson norcos there completely different it's more than dye they changed the pill and are lying to all of us patients that really need these pills.

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46

Re: Sophronia (# 41) Expand Referenced Message

Yes, I am having this same problem!! I am also a grandmother, raising my granddaughters and have valid medical conditions and horrible chronic pain!! The government needs to stay out of our business.

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45

Yes, I was just told today by my pharmacy that the manufacturer of the yellow Norcos isn't making them any more. B.S!!! The whites DO NOT WORK!!!! I think the government has a hand in this. This is so wro by for people who have legitimate chronic pain!!

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44

I broke my back and I get 4 10mg Norco a day. It cost a couple of dollars a month. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. I get the yellow ones from cvs. I don't know what I would do without them. It hurts just laying down in the bed. I feel so sorry for those of you that are hurting and have to fight just to get what you need to have a somewhat of a normal existence. It shouldn't be that way. But they want to make it hard on the pill poppers and don't care how it effects the ones who really have pain issues. May God bless us all.

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43

Dean, I live in Tennessee. It is another world here in the South for medications. Can you post a website about the pain rating system in NY emergency rooms you are speaking of? I would be more than glad to help our plight in any way. I read here that people are complaining about driving 2 hours to a doctors office every month. What would people think about the fact that FLY TO TEXAS every 28 days for medication?

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42

Sophronia are you also aware the state of NY iS the first state, that is removing the questions, from the ER questionnaire part that ask your rating on the management of your pain, while in the ER?
This is per the US Pain Foundation. Please stay informed and start signing the petitions going around.

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41

I hate to say this but you have just joined the ranks of ALL of the rest of us that the govt. is interrupting our ability to have some sort of productive life so they can get to "drug addicts" (they're explanation). Our GREAT pres. Did ask congress for a multi billion dollar amount of money to "pay doctors to alleviate some of their loss of income" due to the govt. taking over their right to prescribe appropriate medications to chronic pain patients. They are losing some of their financial livelihood while we are only LOSING OUR LIVES!!!! I no longer have any dreams or aspirations that with some medication and still enduring gut wrenching pain, I could still be somewhat a GRANDMOTHER AND WIFE. I am now a wretched, pain numbed, dejected and confused ex-patient. I have a list of 14 Chronic validated pain conditions, am permanently disabled, and all I get to do now is wonder how THIS goverment interference in my MEDICAL CONDITIONS ARE making it BETTER!!!! For who????
I do not have Medicaid. I have 2 commercial health insurances and Medicare as a secondary that I never file. It's a travesty. I have written my legislators and they responded, thanking me for my input, and assuring me they are "studying" the situation.
They can study all they want. We are Miserable, Withdrawing and a lot of us are seeking illegal substitutes and dying. My family doctor is retiring this year in bitter disgust at our plight. SEEMS EVERYONE IS GIVING UP!!!
JUST NOT THE DEA LETTING UP!!!
Where do we go from here???

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40

I was given 240/month until NY went full electronic, now only 180/month allowed, and my doctor cannot override with this new electronic bs. NY state is hell, cant wait to get out. Not allowed to defend myself (CCW) and not allowed proper pain management, all due to the lowest, criminal, common denominator.

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39

Also you are correct. The drug addicts and pill poppers with all the overdosed related deaths which are non prescribed related, have now affected those of us who do seriously need this medication to make a big impact on there life. Then you have the people who get themselves in a pain management clinic and think we'll I need those 8, but, in reality they only take a couple because they no they don't need those 8 and sell the rest. I've seen it so many times here in Iowa. I've had people actually ask me what I'm taking because they recognize the color of my meds and then beg to have some. HELL NO. Your only contributing to the problems, by selling what you really don't need, to everyone who really needs this medication today, to not be able to get it. However, with that being said, this is what I have found in my own medical case. I find alternative ways like heat and ice packs, hot baths and short walks on warm days to warm up my joints before absolutely having to take the medication. I've modified my life to live with the new me and my pain conditions. I know what I can and cannot do and what makes the pain worse or better. So yes in a since the old healthy me is gone from my active sports lifestyle, but, I still have a fulfilling life with new fun things to do that do not add to my conditions. I've been up to 240 pills a month before, for years. I hated taking this s***, being on pain pills the rest of my life is not what I wanted to hear from my pain management dr. I kept telling her I will do the things I enjoy and I won't take this much crap. So I made the choice to do something about it, to reduce the amount I needed to take. Anyone who takes 8 of these a day are lying to themselves if you say you HAVE TO HAVE 8. It doesn't matter if you are legit in pain, whether you take 4 or 8 it's not going to matter, your getting the same pain relief benefit, no more, no less. So I chose to reduce my meds in half on my own. Like I told my pain dr. Doesn't matter if I take 4-6 or 8 I'm still getting the pain relief no matter what the amount. Being in constant pain, your body does do its natural reaction, and adjusts itself to dealing with it. Yes, I also have fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis. I can tell you Cymbalta has changed my life. It is NOT habit forming, and is a miracle drug for my fibromyalgia/muscle/arthritis pain, combined with two of my Norco first thing in the morning and 2 in late afternoon to get me through tell bedtime. I take 10mg time released melatonin an hour before I want to go to sleep and I no longer wake up at 2am in horrid pain. Yes I'm in horrid pain when I wake up at 6am, however, if you choose to tell yourself you WANT to do alternative pain relieving methods you can do it and your body WILL accept it. Anyone with chronic conditions such as myself will always deal with this. Hell I can't get out of bed without help in the morning, I'm 37 years old and should be healthy. But I'm not. So I have to play the cards God gave me (quoted by my pain management dr). Once I can get up and hobble around tell my meds kick in then I'm good to go. During the winter I do have to go back up to one extra pill a day, because the rheumatoid arthritis is crippling. But once spring and warm weather comes I am able to drop right back down to 4 a day. My dr has praised me for making the choice to do something about it. I was on 8 pills a day for almost 10 years. I had absolutely no withdrawals tapering myself down to 4 a day and it only took me two months to get there. Feel free to reply to my thread. I would be more than happy to try and help anyone, anyway I can with how to reduce the amount you take a day to feel much better, and not high all the time. I hate that feeling and my next goal is to get to 3 a day then 2 a day. If I can do it with all my surgeries and conditions for life then you can to!!! I also realize there are people out there with their chemistry that they may need that higher amount. I am in no way, shape or form downing any of you who do need that. I know everyone's conditions and their body make up is different and react to the medicine in different ways. Just from my own experience I was once in the place where my mind told me if I didn't take my 8 pills a day I was dying in pain and was not pleasant to be around. I've now got the attitude (especially with all the scary overdoses) NO I can take 2 in the morning with my Cymbalta and ibuprofen and wait an hour tell it kicks in to be able to do simple household chores, grocery shopping Etc. as long as I do what I know I can and not what I can't I can make it through to late afternoon around 3pm to be able to enjoy some family time without the pain interfering with evening activities etc. I am always in pain so I just come to accept it. I know when I set down for the night I'm gonna hurt bad but that's where the ice packs, heat packs etc come into play, until I can take my melatonin for sleep. Please don't get discouraged and really think positive about whatever condition you may have and decide you can do other things to help In between med times and try reducing them. If those of us who TRULY NEED OUR MEDS start working together and more and more people shut out the pill seeking addicts and show your dr hey I can now take 6 a day and drop those extra two because I've been able to use some other form of pain management in between times then, those of us on Norco or whatever it may be will not have to deal with what we are now due to the druggies out there and the DEA I COMMEND THEM FOR WATCHING OUT FOR ME and MY FAMILY. I also do epidural shots every three months which also reduces my need for pain medication so please research all options and discuss with your Drs. Your dr will be more than happy to help keep you out of pain by researching and asking what else can we look at in reducing my pain and reducing my need for so many pain pills a day. My dr. Is so proud of what I am doing she has told the pharmacy herself please make sure I get the yellow Norco as well because, she knows the changes I've done and knows I'm an excellent patient and my body knows what works and what doesn't. She agrees the generic white Norco is not the same thing. And I will gladly have a pill count or drug panel done every 6 months any day of the week. So don't be down on the DEA because if you talk to your Drs sincerely and legitimately you will continue to receive your care and medicine. God Bless you all and I hope a little glimps into what I've dealt with since I was 24 years old will reach one person out there who tells themself, hey I can do this to!

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38

I had the same issue around 2013 as well. Fast track to today 2016. My pharmacy told me it wasn't that they were being discontinued it was just hard to get because they modified the original NorCo to a less addictive ingredient. It still has the same agents just different makeup. I had to take the whites on two different occasions and vomited horribly, felt like I had a hangover and never in my life have I had any issues or side effects from Norco. She has to order mine in because she knows I can't take the white generic version. So my pharmacist only keeps them on hand for me. Try talking to your local CVS and explain to them the issue and they should be able to accommodate you. I feel your pain I have been through 10 back surgeries a shoulder replacement and getting ready for my knee at the age of 37. Sports related.

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37

You can still get them at HEB that's the only place that carries them. I know the white ones suck. I've been getting them there for years tryed other places all white. Target had them till they merged with cvs then white now. Ugh

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