Norco for Pain User Reviews

• Fre...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 7, 2021

"I understand about the opioids crisis, BUT what about the elderly that go to the doctor monthly and even get random drug tested? I have been on Norco for years for RA and also hardware that my body is rejected. All of a sudden, these different manufacturers' brands of meds are given to us, and the pharmacies do not tell us that they changed it. I’ve lost 10 pounds in 30 days because of being sick to my stomach. I can only take yellow Norco, but haven’t gotten it in over a year. Even when my doctor requests it, I don’t get it. No one is carrying the yellow Norco. This is not right. We are really hurting. We can’t get any relief!!!"

• Gan...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 24, 2021

"Train track worker 30+ years and am in pain - non-cancer, non-hospice palliative care pain. Stenosis. Multiple lumbar and thoracic disc nerve intrusions (herniated). Cervical Schmorl's nodes from the daily many hours of tool vibrations. Severe heart disease. High blood pressure from daily pain. What would happen if people on depression medication were cut off? Why are state health departments sending letters to doctors treating people with legitimate pain that can be seen and proven from medical testing while they are responsible to guard the medication they take because it is life-saving to warn doctors about their prescribing? Doctors will not tell you about those letters. My guess is because pain medications give legitimate people with proven pain quality of life and keep them out of revolving doors in the medical community where salaries are very high. People in pain need a good law firm to bring a class-action suit against profits before compassion."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 9, 2020

"I can't understand why there aren't any more complaints, is everyone taking a generic Norco (acetaminophen and hydrocodone) that actually works? If so, please tell me what brand it is because the Tris brand has done something to their pills and they don't work at all anymore. I am no longer able to clean my home and barely can work part-time. One of these sissy lawyers needs to step up and file a lawsuit for intentional pain and suffering because what these drug makers are doing is illegal and the FDA won't do their jobs. I have been filing complaints since last year. The FDA needs to be sued also. Tons of suicides already happened and more to come, someone can only live in severe pain for so long. It feels like they just want to get rid of all the pain patients. I know they changed it because I saved a few old ones and half of one gives me relief. Please file complaints daily with the FDA and these vile drug companies who have no consciences."

• Mag...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 21, 2021

"Omg, I didn't know so many people were going through this dilemma. I live in pain daily at a level 4. I don't take the Norco until the pain is a 7 or above. My Norco did fine, and some days I could go for 2-3 days without taking any more depending on my activity level. I have been screaming about these generics that don't work for years. First, they took the real Flexeril away, which worked really well. Now they have taken the Norco away and given us some serious garbage. The sad part is this: us folks that suffer from chronic pain know the truth about these generics. They put us on them and tell us they are fine. People who use the drug to get high are not our problem. There are those of us who truly suffer from chronic pain. And it's sad that our government does not give two hoots about our conditions. I can't take those Percocet I'm allergic to. They really don't care. The Norco worked. This rubbish they have now is a joke."

• Imr...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 2, 2020

"I was diagnosed with Connective Tissue Disease about 9 years ago. Up until a couple of years ago, I got excellent relief from a yellow generic Norco 5/325. It didn't always relieve all the pain, but that's okay. I changed pharmacies twice now in the hope of getting a product that made my life livable. All I've gotten has been this ineffective M365. I took one over 2 hours ago and now do I finally feel like moving around, a big difference from getting relief in 20-30 minutes. The FDA is clearly negligent. They don't test generics for effectiveness at all. This witch hunt on Hydrocodone is a joke, with responsible hard-working Americans paying the price in pain because of those who obtain these drugs illegally. The FDA just recently decided that cigars needed to be tested at $100k per test, but they refuse to test prescription medications prescribed by responsible caregivers to tax-paying Americans."

• BB9...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 13, 2021

"I agree with EVERY comment in regards to Mallinckrodt!!! They're horrible!!!! I've used Par/Qualitest forever with my double scoliosis and severe debilitating arthritis. Now Par can't be found and... Mallinckrodt??? They do nothing!!!! What are we supposed to do besides suffer??"

• Mea...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 19, 2020

"This is an update. The last 3 months of Tris brand of acetaminophen with hydrocodone (generic Norco) has felt like taking nothing. My new refill Friday of January 17 now feels like I'm taking a completely different medication. This is not hydrocodone in these pills!!! I am tired, dizzy, have a headache, and a little upset stomach. These manufacturers are doing some sort of testing on consumers, using us as lab rats, and it's sickening. PLEASE, PEOPLE, FILE COMPLAINTS WITH THE COMPANIES AND FILE COMPLAINTS WITH THE FDA ONLINE FORMS EVERY DAY UNTIL THEY GET INVESTIGATED."

• yog...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 10, 2021

"I was baffled last weekend when I filled a new Norco 7.5/325 mg prescription after a Friday afternoon doctor visit and received zero effect from the pain I was experiencing passing a kidney stone. I tried taking the pills for over 2 days. The pharmaceutical company is Amneal. I have taken this drug over the years after having oral work done or post operatively, or from the last kidney stone episode 2 years ago and have always had a very effective response to it. The second day I tried taking 2 pills at a time, nothing. I would not take any more as I did not want to put something in my body that I had no idea what the content of it was. But it definitely wasn't any kind or level of opiate. I went online last weekend to seek information and found many similar complaints over the past several months. What a sad situation for people to find themselves in, being allowed to suffer in pain and being duped. Shame on these companies."

• Jos...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 19, 2019

"I have been taking Norco, the generic brand, for 18 years due to back issues. But my doctor retired and a new doctor tells me that I have an addiction and that I need to stop taking it. So, I asked him if he even read my file. I refuse to be in pain and was wondering if I have any legal rights. I am 61 years old, worked hard in my younger age, got hurt on my job, and now they tell me that I have an addiction. I take 3 to 4 a day and I don't want to wither away due to pain for the rest of my life."

• Pai...
• August 25, 2020

"Fibro, CF, deg. arthritis, bilateral TJR of jaw. Have side effects to most meds. Norco works best. Generic Norco quality declined substantially since 2017. Used to take Qualitest generic 10/325, worked great, then Watson. Mallinckrodt, awful, did I mention AWFUL? Felt as if I took nothing, nausea, and dizziness. Tried Par brand, bad as Mallinckrodt. Dr. documents chart about lack of effectiveness of generic brands. Called a small pharmacy, asked to order brand name Norco. Did this without any hassle or judgment. Costs $500 for 100, Rx is 180 per month. I pay $10 or less for generics. Good news, brand name Norco works great, no side effects, pain 8 goes down to 3-4. Bad news, can't afford. Require insurance coverage, have documented generics give no pain relief. Think generic fillers are poor quality, and this is why they don't work for a lot of us in pain. Assume brand name has better quality fillers. It's unfair we have sub-par meds. Not all generics work as well as brand names, as they claim. Brand: Allergan, white, oblong, NORCO 539."

• Me1...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 12, 2022

"This is no longer like it contains hydrocodone. For the last 2 and 1/2 years, these drug makers have been messing with the formula, and it's like they're poisoning us, using us as lab rats, and it's absolutely disgusting. My newest refill from the same manufacturer I've been on for 5 years caused severe dizziness. I couldn't even walk, I was walking into walls, it was so bad. Yep, my doctor says I'm the only one with this complaint. LOL. Are you people not reporting this to your doctor, the drug maker, and to the FDA? Wake up and start reporting this crap. This is unbelievable that this is allowed to continue this long. Some of us still are forced to go to work, and there's no way I can work like this. I'm scared to death what I'm going to do now. And for you pharmacists who claim that dizziness is a side effect, sorry, when you're taking the same drug for 7 years, it doesn't all of a sudden start causing these severe side effects including sleeplessness, sleepiness, dizziness, headaches, rapid heart rate, and nausea."

• Int...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 23, 2020

"The generic hydrocodone/acetaminophen combo has turned into absolute garbage in the US. In my experience, pharmacies are just purchasing the cheapest product they can find, which increases all the bad effects of an opioid while providing very little pain relief. Opioids are the only drug class you can't even pay extra for the namebrand for, all thanks to pharmacy/insurance company policy. It is absurd. Honestly, it should be illegal. Luckily, my doctor is willing to switch me to Percocet or Oxy (which is almost impossible in today's age), so I'm glad. On the other hand, I seem to have a weirdly high tolerance to Oxy. Either way, reporting this to the drug manufacturers (Mallinckrodt, Tris, etc.) is the only way. The FDA is filled with people who don't answer the phone, so reporting to the manufacturers as well is best."

• Bri...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 20, 2019

"When the Watson brand of acetaminophen/hydrocodone was available, this medication was wonderful. The last 2 months, I noticed a difference in my prescription not working effectively. I honestly could feel little to no relief and excessive drowsiness throughout the day. I called the pharmacy and found out the manufacturer was Mallinckrodt. After reading reviews about others taking this brand, I have decided to talk to my pain specialist and switch medications rather than try to search for a pharmacy with a different brand. Good luck to you all, and I pray that we all get some relief from ongoing pain. #Peaceandlove"

• Pha...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 6, 2022

"Please send a MedWatch 3500 form to the FDA about Norco generic. FDA.gov. The FDA will not read your post here. The MedWatch 3500 form is a simple one-page document that will help the FDA open an investigation on the generic manufacturers. Norco generic is not AB rated! Available USA generics are AA rated, meaning they only passed a dissolution test in acetone with a report that has been submitted to the FDA. This does not mean it is therapeutically equivalent to the reference brand. That is why you are experiencing more pain, that is because these manufacturers are not making therapeutically equivalent drugs that you are taking. Again, they are not AB rated. Currently, there is no open investigation on generic Norco! You have to submit the MedWatch 3500 form! This exists because we need people on this site to submit an FDA MedWatch 3500 form via mail, fax, or email, then if enough complaints are logged, then only then will there be action. Please act now, send the form."

• Suk...
• April 24, 2021

"Absolute garbage. Ibuprofen works better for my tooth pain. I ended up doubling my dose and still no relief. I don’t know what the manufacturers are doing to pain pills these days but it’s wrong on so many levels."

• Pai...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 18, 2018

"I have been on Norco for 13 years for pain relief and have no side effects. The main problem is finding a doctor to prescribe them. Many doctors mistakenly think by cutting down or stopping writing scripts for Norco, there are less overdoses. Actually, the people that legitimately take it for pain are suffering, and the people abusing it have switched to heroin, which there are many more ODs from. Heroin is not controlled so it can contain deadly ingredients, also, an addict could be used to a certain strength and unknowingly buy something stronger that could kill them. This law has caused more deaths, but most doctors haven't done the research I have and don't know this. I think the doctors should get personally involved with the patients, I would gladly answer any questions and give permission for them to check my legal history. Then hopefully the people in pain would get help and the people abusing drugs could go to rehab to get off it. That's when we'll see a drop in ODs and deaths."

• Kra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 12, 2019

"I have had times when I've had to take Norco for pain. Most of which was Watson. I had knee surgery Dec 28 and was given Norco 5/325 from Aurobindo Pharmaceuticals. I took 2-3 at a time to feel any relief. This brand is no better than OTC meds. I never knew until now that different companies use different ingredients. I'm so disappointed in my pharmacy for changing companies at the cost of their suffering clientele."

• Her...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 7, 2019

"I just took my last Watson yesterday. I was concerned about continuing this medication because all the pharmacies in my area only stock Mallinckrodt, and that manufacturer's brand causes me increased pain and muscle tension. I consider it to be a substandard medication, and really, I will not use it. I was lucky to find one pharmacy that stocks Amneal. While not quite as good as Watson, Amneal is an improvement over Mallinckrodt (Mallincrap), so I won't have to ask my doctor to take me off this medication, which I was going to do if only Mallincrap was available. I have informed my pharmacy that I do not want anything from Mallinckrodt as I do not trust this company. Unfortunately, they own many of the corporate pharmacies around the country."

• Rea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 13, 2021

"With brand Norco or Watson Hydrocodone at one a day, I experienced occasional itchy nose, occasional mild nausea, occasional constipation. Now at six Mallinckrodt brand Hydrocodone, I have no side effects. Along with minimal pain relief. Billions of dollars are being spent on these inferior drugs. People's money, insurance companies, taxpayers' money in the trash, and people suffering! What a joke the FDA is. Time for a federal lawsuit against the FDA and Mallinckrodt, as well as anyone else who stood by while this is going on. This is not the solution to a few bad apples that misuse/abuse their medication. There are many more people who have been using it responsibly, and it's not hard to distinguish the addicts from the people who want to be able to live their lives without agony and depression from constant pain. It may be sad when abusers overdose, but it's worse when honest, deserving patients give up due to no pain relief."

• M 3...
• April 21, 2022

"It pains me to see my mother suffer, to have been naive enough that I believed all generics are created equal and to have accused her of addiction and abusing her medicine. For a 10-month period in 2021, she had a better generic and her emotional, physical, and social health exceeded what I had assumed possible. Now back on bad generics, she is yellow, lethargic, and incoherent as well as needing more to ease pain. FDA do your job, you’re damaging my mother."

• LCa...
• September 15, 2018

"I used to take the 10/325 'yellow' pills, but now most pharmacies dispense white pills made by Watson, Mallinckrodt (“M”) or Amneal. Watson worked best for me, but not as well as the yellow pills. Walgreens just signed a contract with M and that's all they carry now. I can definitively say this past month has been awful. The M brand did not help my pain and made me very irritable. It's as if M put out a placebo or sugar pill. I refuse to take more pills due to the lack of efficacy of the M pills. I learned independent pharmacies often carry several brands at one time. One near me carries three -- including PAR (the yellow ones!) I hate to sound excited, but I thought they stopped making those and have been suffering through sub-par (pun intended) substitutions. The pharmacist told me Par costs twice as much to order than other brands. My guess is that's because it actually works. If you find a brand that works for your body, it can definitely improve quality of life."

• Foo...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 20, 2022

"Manufacturers of opioid pain relief medications must have gotten orders from healthcare leaders to reformulate these lifesaving medications. There is a recent drastic change in how they work, and the cause most likely is they want you to ask for a higher dosage to label you, which does no good due to the reformulation. Legitimate pain patients should just keep complaining to elected officials. Farmland states' Department of Health may have different priorities because of the physical work needed for farm work. Bottom line, if you have daily pain because of a career in daily physical labor jobs with radiological images and medical proof of the pain condition, healthcare leaders couldn't care less."

• Gan...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 20, 2022

"It seems the physical dimensions of the product have changed with the formula. This medication is supposed to be semi-synthetic and may contain less of the semi (natural opioid) and more of the cheap synthetic now. My same prescription that I have been taking for years, two a day max, fit in the smaller vial, whereas three years ago they would not fit. They also do not provide the same pain relief as they did at that time. My heart disease is getting worse without the pain control. Please be cautious with this medication if my suspicion is correct that the formula has changed, because those cheap drugs are dangerous. It is a shame how the medical community has changed and doesn't care about seniors who built all of what everyone enjoys today. Be safe, policies are changing very fast."

• Sar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 29, 2018

"Norco worked pretty well for me at the right dose and when rx'd with muscle relaxers. However, I was originally rx'd long-acting opioids because I had liver damage due to Halothane toxicity and taking a single-ingredient opioid was safer. With the new 'guidelines,' I can't even find a doctor who's okay with rxing Norco so I'm back to taking high doses of acetaminophen. The govt has really screwed chronic pain patients."

• Pat...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 25, 2023

"Norco is extremely effective - I have used it over the years after having 3 back surgeries. I have never experienced any negative side effects or withdrawal symptoms. Norco has been in use for over 60 years and has not caused a public health crisis. We have OxyContin to thank for that - a drug that should never have been approved. OxyContin is no more effective than Norco but is five times more addictive by design. The FDA should be ashamed of itself, and generic manufacturer Mallinckrodt should do us all a favor and go out of business. It is simply a waste unless you're looking for a medication that causes you to throw up. I would rate Norco a 10 and Mallinckrodt a 1. OxyContin is an abomination. Meanwhile, millions of us with moderate to severe pain every day have nowhere to turn."