Norco and Nausea: What Users Say

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

For Pain "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!!!"

• LAM...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 2, 2021

For Back Pain "CVS had generic Norco by Sun Pharma. No vomiting, migraines, upset stomach. CVS had Aurobindo generic, pain was 8, after 2 tablets a 7, nausea was bad. I wrote to the CVS CEO, and he told the pharmacist to order a brand that worked for me. The pharmacy manager got angry and refused to fill my pain medication, then she told my doctor. I had to go to a pain management doctor. On the first visit, the doctor came in and said, 'I read your chart, you’ve had everything done to try and help your pain, so why are you here?' I explained, 'I’m here because of a pharmacist.' I explained, and he was shocked that a pharmacist could do this with all my surgeries. A pharmacist would complain about four pain pills a day. The doctor wrote my prescription and added 'do not fill with Mallinckrodt, Aurobindo, or Amneal.' For 2 years, no problems, but in the last few months, CVS said no Sun, really!! Every pharmacy refuses to order other brands, and every pharmacy I call says we only carry Mallinckrodt. The FDA said if no one calls to complain, then things won’t change."

• Ros...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 2, 2021

For Back Pain "I’m 72 years old with severe arthritis and sciatic nerve pain. I’ve been taking hydrocodone for over 20 years with excellent pain relief and able to live somewhat of a normal life. I cannot sleep on a regular mattress and for many years sleep in a recliner. Lately, I’ve been helping my son and daughter-in-law babysitting my 3 grandsons which is not easy. As most, the manufacturer is Mallinckrodt. The script I just had filled is way different! The pain doesn’t subside and I literally feel very sick! While I normally feel pain relief and also more alert, I now feel I can’t stay awake and honestly feel horrible! I’ve called all pharmacies and they all use nothing but Mallinckrodt! Also, none of them have the name brand Norco anymore! When I was getting Norco, when colored yellow that worked the best. Since the change to white, it’s never been the same."

• Pai...
• August 25, 2020

For Pain "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

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."

• Jka...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 21, 2019

For Back Pain "I had cancer and an autoimmune disorder which ended with several surgeries and resulted in a lot of generalized pain. My doc prescribed Norco 5/325 three times a day then had to double the dose. Mallinckrodt was the pharmaceutical manufacturer. This medicine absolutely did nothing for pain and actually caused other issues such as GI problems including abdominal cramps and nausea. After switching to another brand, my pain was relieved significantly and no abdominal issues. As a medical professional, I do not recommend this manufacturer EVER."

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

For Pain "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."

• Mrs...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 18, 2014

For Pain "I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia about seven years ago. I have taken Norco as prescribed by my physician along with other medications. Norco has improved my quality of life 100% as it allows me to manage down my pain level so that I am capable of conducting everyday living without that heavy narcotic side effects i.e., feeling 'high', sleepiness, nausea, abdominal discomfort. I think I have developed a mild physical or mental dependence due to the length of time that I've been on the medicine. First and foremost I take the medicine as directed and I do not wait until my pain level is at a 10 before I act otherwise its effects are limited. Norco has been very helpful in giving me my life back!"

• Pat...
• March 31, 2023

For Back Pain "I have had surgery to replace my fractured C5 vertebrae with bone harvested from my hip; I have had back surgery to replace a disk; and I have had spinal fusion surgery. I now have arthritis in my hand and shoulder. I have taken Norco 10s for the pain over the years and have found them to be highly effective with no side effects or withdrawal symptoms. My doctor prescribed Norco 10 for my arthritis, but the only medication the pharmacies in my area carry is manufactured by Mallinckrodt, and they are terrible! They don't reduce the pain AT ALL, but they're GREAT at making me nauseous. If your doctor prescribes generic Norco 10s by manufacturer Mallinckrodt, don't bother - the product is worthless."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• Vic...
• April 23, 2009

For Pain "This combination of Hydrocodone/acetaminophen is the best at relieving pain. I have tried Vicodin, Lortab, Lorcet, Vocoprofen, Vicodin HP, and just about every different combination, and Norco works the best by far. It relieves my pain in all parts of my body, and is also great for headaches, terrible back pain, and abdominal cramping. This drug is much less addicting and has fewer episodes of nausea/vomiting."

• Ret...
• October 15, 2016

For Pain "When they switched me to Norco, I had to deal with more pain. The medication is half as effective and makes me sick to my stomach many times. The government doesn't care about the people with real pain, more concerned with the drug addicts (which more people are becoming because they can't get the pain relief they need.)"

• Ang...
• May 26, 2016

For Back Pain "I have a herniated disc, osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, bone spurs, and more. I have been taking Norco 10/325 for 3 months now and have surgery coming up in June: spinal fusion and laminectomy of lumbar L4 L5. Without this medication, I would not be able to get out of bed most of my days and am very thankful to have somewhat of a quality of life. I only take the entire 10 occasionally and break them in half to manage my pain. I do occasionally get light-headed and nauseated, but I have found that I can avoid this by eating small meals throughout the day and drinking lots of water."

• Liz...
• January 13, 2017

For Pain "Works better than 5 mg oxycodone. I do not feel that the 5/325 Norco works at all, but the 10/325 does help. Some people can and will get an upset stomach when taking it. All you have to do is ask for some nausea medication to go with it. I think it is a bit ridiculous that it is so hard to get, especially when you are in extreme pain. I honestly feel that it helps with my fibromyalgia pain as well, not fully, but it does help."

• 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!!!"

• EMa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 19, 2021

"I have pain from breast cancer and fibromyalgia. I was recently given generic Norco manufactured by Lupin. OMG, what is in these worthless pills?! They crumble in your mouth and do absolutely nothing. I took a second one about a half an hour later and was sick to my stomach and dizzy. I've never had this reaction from Watson, Qualitest, or Amneal. When I complained to CVS, I was told they just put the order in and buy whatever is available at the cheapest price. I'm a senior and feeling abandoned by the medical community. I will complain to the DEA and had the pain doctor put in my chart ineffectiveness. And then what?"

• Bil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 29, 2021

For Pain "In simple terms, Norco makes my stomach sick and does not relieve pain after total knee replacement, but the doctor is afraid to order any other stronger medicines because of all the bad press, so people in real pain have to suffer because of a few idiots who abuse drugs."

• Wil...
• February 17, 2017

For Pain "I was prescribed Norco 5/325 to manage post-operative pain from a tooth extraction. The first time I took it, I took one pill, became really nauseous, and didn't feel any pain relief. The second time I took 2 pills. I didn't develop nausea, which was good, but I also didn't experience any pain relief or drowsiness. It was like I hadn't taken anything at all."

• Wil...
• February 17, 2017

For Pain "I was prescribed Norco 5/325 to manage post-operative pain from a tooth extraction. The first time I took it, I took one pill, became really nauseous, and didn't feel any pain relief. The second time I took 2 pills. I didn't develop nausea, which was good, but I also didn't experience any pain relief or drowsiness. It was like I hadn't taken anything at all."

• 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."

• Che...
• May 5, 2016

For Pain "I was taking Percocet for some 6 years, and I felt it was time for a change. I was put on Norco 10-325, the same level as the Percocet I was taking. The first dose gave me a pleasant high and seemed to be effective on the pain, but about one hour later, I became horribly nauseated and vomited up the medication! Future doses proved the same results. This went on for about 10 days, even with an empty stomach. I tried Dramamine, water pills, Bonine, Metoclopramide, but no matter what, it made me horribly nauseated! In addition to that, I felt very lethargic, brain dead, and my sense of taste and smell seemed to elude me. Although it did relieve the pain, the side effects superseded the benefits. I am now back on my Percocet 10-325."

• Ace...
• June 24, 2010

For Pain "Taking for sciatica and lower back pain, 60 mg/day, 10/325 - not much relief, can go higher but really messes my stomach up. May ask to go back to original Percocet at 30 mg, which worked better. Stomach pain from Norco is in lower stomach and sides, where original pain was, so I'm also not sure if I'm treating the cure sometimes. Kills appetite, mainly nausea, 60 mg lets me get through physical therapy okay, but am losing weight fast (15 pounds/1 month) from nausea - just not the right one for me - not fond of Percocet either, but don't know of anything 'between' that might work."

• Anonymous
• January 5, 2012

For Pain "Extreme nausea, along with hot flashes and dizziness, masked any improvement in my pain condition. It was so intense that I decided that I would rather deal with the pain than suffer another dose of the side effect."