Norco and Headaches: What Users Say

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

For Pain "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."

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

For Pain "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."

• Bab...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 29, 2018

For Back Pain "I have been taking Norco for a while, and the manufacturer was Actavis. They really didn't help that much. Well, I just got another prescription filled, and Walgreens changed the manufacturer again to Mallinckrodt, and they do nothing at all but give me pains in my stomach and a slight headache. I wish these manufacturers would stop playing around with the ingredients. We are in pain and need something effective for pain, not the ineffective ones we are getting now."

• Jax...
• March 29, 2019

For Pain "Both Norco and its generic Actavis version 5-300 mg (white scored tablets) caused such a reaction that I turned in both prescriptions to the local police department's medication drop. CVS noted I could not take Norco, yet one month later they filled a prescription with the generic form by Actavis. Once again, I was violently ill. For me, Mallinckrodt white oval scored tablet 5-300 mg is a marvel. No side effects whatsoever, just absolute pain relief in 30-45 minutes. Effective up to 5 hours, even 1/2 tablet is effective within an hour and lasts perhaps 4-4:30 hours. CVS now only carries LUPIN Pharmaceuticals for generic Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen 5-300 mg. Agh! Massive headache, waves of nausea, and dizzying lightheadedness—no pain relief."

• Bob...
• June 17, 2021

For Pain "Vicodin and Norco seem consistent and without adverse side effects. I was able to work, go to school, take care of all the necessities of a busy and productive life, even with pain from spondylosis. There has been a supply issue with the inception of the 'opioid crisis.' Legitimate patients are unable to fill their prescriptions. Mallinckrodt brand gave me what can be described as flu-like symptoms: nausea, ringing in my ears, headache, and general malaise. I checked the ingredients list to see if there was anything I was allergic to in the filler. I see nothing amiss. This is a mystery indeed. NORCO is unavailable at any pharmacy I have inquired at, and the preferred generic from Camber Pharmaceuticals is also not available. Whether this is a manufacturing issue, a supply issue, or a corporate issue (higher profits from offering a cheaper generic), I do not know."

• Tak...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 23, 2021

For Pain "These generic pain medications are horrible. Many times they have no manufacturer name on them. I am being given one now that gives me vertigo every single day, all day long. I lose my balance, have severe headaches, am nauseated, and have blurry vision. These side effects have me bedridden now. I am drowsy and sleep a lot. There was a note on my account with the pharmacy to not give this brand to me, but now I am being told, 'You get what we have.' I was willing to pay out of pocket for name brand, I was told, 'No one stocks name brand anymore.' I went to every pharmacy in our area and called ones that were not so close. I now don't have the energy to move and take care of many things. If I don't take them, I am in too much pain. Just as bad is the attitudes of the pharmacists now thinking it's open season on people who need these medications. They talk over me, they talk down to me, and everyone ignores me and acts like I am not a person."

• Dan...
• March 17, 2021

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Feb 28, 2021. I've been getting my prescription Norco 10/325 from CVS, and lately they haven't been working on my pain. So I called my doctor and mentioned it, they suggested I try a different pharmacy. It could be the manufacturer, so I did. I tried Walgreens, worse decision because they gave me a brand called Mallinckrodt. It doesn't help at all with pain. I've had really horrible side effects: bad weight gain, headaches, depression, forgetfulness. Never again."

• bad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 24, 2022

For Pain "Norco replaced the TRIS brand Hydrocodone 10/325 at Walgreens recently. It is terrible!!! Didn't reduce pain like the TRIS 10/325 did, and it caused me a terrible headache followed by nausea. Tried taking them for 3 days and flushed them down the toilet. Horrible product - Walgreens needs to get the TRIS manufactured product back ASAP!!!"

• Who...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 17, 2022

For Pain "I was given 6 5/325 and took 2 following a tooth extraction. They don't work at all. I had a pounding headache associated with the forceful removal of an impacted molar, and these didn't relieve the pain enough for me to sleep later that night. I even took these along with 800 mg of ibuprofen, and still no pain relief. The sad part is the hydrocodone is such a small percentage that the acetaminophen is the more dangerous of the 2 drugs in these pills."

• Han...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 2, 2018

For Back Pain "Taking this solidly about 5 years now. People, please, if you take anything, there is a risk to become addicted. How many of you drink sodas, eat junk food, or diet sodas daily? All can hurt you, possibly kill you. If you have real pain, this works. Be responsible and take what is prescribed. If your body is getting used to the dose, tell your doctor. Don't take more. Sometimes taking this can cause rebound headaches. Will cause constipation. Can make your skin dry. This medicine does not make me drowsy or slow my heart rate. It could for you. Be safe. Live well."

• Rel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 9, 2013

For Pain "This medication worked well for my pain after a C-section, but after 3 days I began to experience horrible nausea and headaches. The nausea caused me to strain my stomach, so I stopped taking the medication and experienced headaches several days after quitting. Overall, it was an effective pain reliever, but for me, the side effects were too much."

• Anonymous
• January 1, 2013

For Pain "Took this medicine to treat pain from surgery. Stopped taking after two days. Nausea, vomiting, lightheaded, dizzy, and headache. Glad I was able to pinpoint the association with my misery and Norco."

• Sar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 24, 2012

For Pain "Pain relief was OK, but it caused terrible nausea and headaches after 3 days of taking 10/325 every four hours after shoulder surgery."

• Anonymous
• March 18, 2012

For Pain "This medication took the pain away but kept me very awake. When I came off of the medicine, I had horrible headaches!"