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Norco User Reviews & Ratings (Page 2)

Norco has an average rating of 6.3 out of 10 from a total of 360 reviews on Drugs.com. 55% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 31% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Norco

  • MissN...
  • February 17, 2020

For Back Pain "I was given Norco because of stenosis and a herniated disc which happened on the job, and because I'm in a program of recovery, I did not want to take it. However, the pain became too great, and I was getting a great generic version of Norco, acetaminophen/hydrocodone. Now the only thing that is available is Mallinckrodt, and before that, I had a manufacturer, Eywa... (THOSE ARE AWFUL) However, Mallinckrodt is the best I can come up with because Watson no longer makes this medication, and the looks from the pharmacy just because it doesn't look like I have anything wrong doesn't mean that there isn't. My doctor has shared with me that he won't increase my dosage, even though my condition is chronic, nor will he change it to Percocet because I would have to go to a hearing. I don't know if anyone has ever heard of any of these things, but if you have, please share. I'm in Ohio, the Cleveland area. I'm just tired and NO ONE should have to deal with substandard medicines. But what about those of us who have chronic pain?"

4 / 10
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  • Natalie
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • August 19, 2019

For Back Pain "I used to get name brand things; they were fine. My back pain started getting worse, then I got the generics. At first, it was good; some were helpful, some not. With the Aurobindo brand of acetaminophen/hydrocodone, after about 2 weeks, I started to vomit and was sick for a week. Of course, the pharmacy didn't listen. Then, one more time and the same thing happened. No more of that. Then Mallinckrodt; it's just rubbish. Now, I'm having spasms in buttocks. I don't think there are any opiates in them, and I am withdrawing. You can't trust big pharma. That's the way they do things. I am angry because they are stealing from us. How dare they decide for us that we should not have opiates."

2 / 10
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  • Pharm...
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • March 6, 2022

For Pain "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."

1 / 10
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Frequently asked questions

  • Anonymous
  • February 19, 2020

For Back Pain "Back and neck look like a train wreck without going into a long, drawn-out post. Waiting for surgery because the doctor is out of town. Pain doctor says be patient. I’m not out of pain. Been on Norco for 15 years. Looking at a 3rd neck fusion and 4 herniations, disc protruding, and other MRI findings. Doctor is scared to prescribe medication. I’ve actually thought about street drugs to relieve my pain. It’s not addiction, it’s desperation for chronic pain relief!"

5 / 10
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  • Suki
  • April 24, 2021

For Pain "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."

1 / 10
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138 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

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

For Pain "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."

10 / 10
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  • Jazz
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 31, 2019

For Back Pain "I was taking Actavis Norco 10/325 for years, and as you all stated, no one carries them anymore. The Mallinckrodt makes me so sick that I did research. Par Pharmaceuticals, the yellow ones, are wholesaled by AmerisourceBergen, and AmerisourceBergen's largest contract is with Walgreens and Rite Aid. I called around and Par told me that you are with AmerisourceBergen and that you can order Par. The 24-hour locations can try, but they are mostly stocked fully with Mallinckrodt and can't order past a certain threshold. Call the locations that are open until 9 p.m. Both of the non-24-hour Walgreens were able to go into their system, pull up Par yellow Norco, and order them. They also notated my file that I have a bad reaction to Mallinckrodt and can only be filled with Actavis (which is still made; I called them as well) or Par. Hope this helps."

8 / 10
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  • bobbi
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • November 1, 2019

For Back Pain "I have had back pain for years but didn’t see a doctor until the last few years. Recently had back surgery. I’ve taken Norco off and on, and it does help with the pain, but it just doesn’t last long and I need a high dose that makes me sleepy. My big complaint is the restrictions on opioids. If I have MRI reports that indicate I have a real need for them, why do I have to go every month to get a prescription? I understand patients make up illnesses to get them, but if there’s no indication at all, they need to not receive them. It shouldn’t affect someone who does."

4 / 10
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  • Kraci
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 12, 2019

For Pain "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."

1 / 10
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  • Malef...
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • December 11, 2018

For Back Pain "I had been taking the Watson 10/325 Norco with no problems, until Walgreens went to Mallinckrodt; total waste of time. I was told by Walgreens that Watson no longer existed and found that unacceptable. They are worlds apart and I don’t know how they’re getting away with this. Wait, yes, I do! Those that need these meds to work, so we function in life; are also victims of the opioid epidemic. So I did some research... Watson was bought out by one of two companies. Next, I began calling pharmacies, asking the brand carried. All the chain stores had the Mallinckrodt, CVS flat refused to answer & said they’d reject my prescription if I came in and asked. FINALLY, I found two local pharmacies that had different brands. I have gone to both pharmacies to try them and discovered that any brand OTHER than the Mallinckrodt works just fine. So my advice to anyone in this predicament is to try local pharmacies and step away from the Mallinckrodt garbage."

9 / 10
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  • Jkano
  • 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."

1 / 10
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  • JPano
  • September 12, 2020

For Back Pain "For years, I took brand Norco (acetaminophen/hydrocodone) when it was manufactured by Watson. When the drug went off-patent, many companies jumped in to manufacture generic versions of the drug. At one time, Watson was manufacturing a generic, which was great since it was exactly the same as the brand, but Watson was bought out, and it's impossible to know (except through trial and error) whether the purchaser is using the Watson 'recipe.' As for generics, acetaminophen with hydrocodone, for me, the generic Norco manufactured by Aurobindo has been excellent, as has that manufactured by Mallinckrodt and Rhodes. I have also been able to take the generic manufactured by Tris with what is usually adequate pain relief (but not as good as Aurobindo, Mallinckrodt, or Rhodes). The generic that I absolutely cannot take is Amneal - it's like not taking anything at all. I'm not sure why, as all of these drugs should have the same amount of opiate in them, but I might as well not fill the prescription if the generic is Amneal."

9 / 10
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  • Hermit
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • January 7, 2019

For Pain "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."

5 / 10
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  • Real...
  • 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."

1 / 10
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  • rocko
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • December 13, 2014

For Back Pain "I did 6 years of active duty with the army as an infantry soldier. I've been in the Iraq war in 2004 and the war in Afghanistan in 2006. During combat, I've been in 6 IED explosions. A gunshot through my left shin, nerve damage to my whole right hand. Compressed 3 discs and shattered 1 in my lower back. I have Traumatic brain injury which causes horrible migraines. I've been on everything since 2007...OxyContin 80mg, 30mg Roxys, 125mg fentanyl patches, morphine 60mgs, etc. Currently, I'm on 10/325 Norco 6 times a day. I've grown dependent and tolerant to opiates. But Norco is by far the best medicine to make my chronic pain tolerable. And the side effects are close to none. I highly recommend this for chronic pain."

10 / 10
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  • M 367
  • April 21, 2022

For Pain "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."

1 / 10
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67 Report
  • LCano
  • September 15, 2018

For Pain "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."

9 / 10
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  • Fools...
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • June 20, 2022

For Pain "Manufacturers of opioid pain relief medications must have gotten orders from healthcare leaders to reformulate these life saving medications. There is a recent drastic change in how they work and the cause most likely is they want you to ask for higher dosage to label you, which does no good due to the reformulate. Legitimate pain patients should just keep complaining to elected officials. Farmland states Dept. 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."

2 / 10
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  • Gandy...
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • March 20, 2022

For Pain "Seems the physical dimensions of the product has changed with the formula. This med is supposed to be semi synthetic and may be less of the semi (natural opioid) and more of the cheap synthetic now. My same R/x that I have been taking for years, two a day max, fit in the smaller vial whereas 3 years ago they would not fit. They also do not have the same pain relief from that time. My heart disease is getting worse without the pain control. Please be cautious with this med if my suspicion is correct that the formula changed, because that cheap drugs are dangerous stuff. 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."

2 / 10
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  • Krissy
  • June 13, 2019

For Back Pain "I was injured years ago badly. When I fell, it worsened & had surgery. My pain is severe & classified as intractable. PT helps but my back pain persists. I tried Percocet, morphine & Hysingla, but nothing touched the pain. It was as if I hadn’t taken anything! I was taking too many Advil a day, which helped, but the doctor said that’s very dangerous. I gave up & she suggested 1 last medication, Norco. I was skeptical & gave in to the pain but took just one pill & after 1 hour, I had no pain for hours! I’ve had excruciating pain for so long, and it honestly feels strange not to have it a few hours a day now. Another plus is NO SIDE EFFECTS like others (dizziness, out of it feeling (I guess euphoria which I hate), no constipation) and it just works! Husband sees a difference in my outlook and how I’m walking better. There’s a need for a 2nd pill midday when the morning one wears off, then some pain at night. But I’m okay with pain at night because I’m just resting. I’m finally getting my life back. I really just can’t believe it!!!!"

9 / 10
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  • Dave
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • January 4, 2019

For Back Pain "I switched from Rite Aid and the useless Mallinckrodt (Malincrap) brand to an independent pharmacy that sells the yellow 3601 Norco in October. I couldn't believe it, but I only need 2 a day to control my pain. The next 3 months, the same yellow Norco had decreased in pain relief to the point that my most recent script was total garbage. Same pills but different shipment. Complained to the pharmacy and now I'm filing a complaint with the FDA. People must file written complaints for the FDA to investigate. PHAR P, that's the brand."

2 / 10
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  • Sarah
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • October 29, 2018

For Pain "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."

7 / 10
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115 Report
  • Enough
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • June 15, 2022

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Have taken Norco 10/325 for years, for spinal stenosis and injured vertebrae pain. Within the last few years, generic was fine, and now, it has been tainted with who knows what. Amneal and Lupin pharmaceutical companies are two of the worst rubbish generic Norco. Getting away with selling poison, that doesn’t work. Watson, was one that did. What happened? The aforementioned should be investigated."

1 / 10
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  • Babyg...
  • 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."

1 / 10
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  • Pattyc
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • March 25, 2023

For Pain "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."

10 / 10
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37 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.