Corrie
Board Addict
Reged: 07/16/02
Posts: 362
Loc: Southeast US
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I had a Mallinckrodt 5/500 purchased at CVS that I had taken recently due to lack of any other meds, and I can honestly say that my pain, on a scale from 1-10 was a 2, whereas when I take a Norco or Lortab (10 mg. strength) from an OP, it's about a 4-6.
This is not a slam against OP's (they are truly my saviour's!), but I'm curious if other's have experienced the same regarding OP's pharmacy's. The quality of drug store (as in down the street) meds seems to be of a higher quality, and is much stronger.
This has now happened more than one time, and I'm considering finding a good pain management doctor (if possible) and stick with him/her if our insurance allows. If not, I'll take my Mother's route and take an occasional ibuprophen or tylenol. My finances, my marriage, etc. is being compromised and I don't think I can take it. If I could afford it, I would send one of my pills to be tested really see how much hydrocodone is contained in the pill's we are receiving from OP pharmacies.
I completely realize tolerance has reared it's ugly head and this is most likely one of the cases, but I'm finding I'm having to increase my dosage more and more, and this is not something I cannot afford, health-wise and monetarily-wise, as well as all of the other problems that encompass taking more meds. A longer acting, stronger med would be great, but I have no doctor willing to go that route. And believe me, I've tried.
Corrie
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Chitownlady
Member
Reged: 10/30/03
Posts: 114
Loc: IL
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I totally agree with you, I too have noticed that the meds I receive from my mom/pop pharmacy are MUCH stronger than the meds I receive from an OP. Also, I always get sick (throwing up) from the meds from an OP, whereas meds from down the street work just fine, no nausea at all. Don't know what to do, interesting topic for discussion though, hopefully some of the veterans will post.
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Nitzboy
Stranger
Reged: 11/02/03
Posts: 21
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I agree. I suspect that the OP meds are very ofen expired, or nearly so. I notice that with some of them, I'll get dust all over my hands from the pills. That never happens with pain meds that I have seen from local pharmacies. Some of them take advantage, quite frankly.
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sheenafur
Enthusiast
Reged: 04/25/03
Posts: 225
Loc: California
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I am expecting that a lot of people are going to say this is all a load of BS, but I've found the same thing. I wonder which OPs this has happened with. Any of ya'll can pm me. Yes, I also have a tolerance issue. But I have found that sometimes, the pills just plain don't work at all.
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Go easy, step lightly, stay free--J. Strummer
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LadyAxiom
Stranger
Reged: 06/13/03
Posts: 18
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I have noticed this as well.
I rarely take sleep medications but recently ordered Sonata. My PC gave me a sample of this medication last year and 10 mg worked like a charm. The OP's Sonata barely does anything at supposedly 20 mg. There is no tolerance issue here so I am pretty sure that they do not contain the 10mg that they are supposed to.
Ticks me off
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Daycamp72
Enthusiast
Reged: 06/29/02
Posts: 283
Loc: Tara
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I wholehearledly agree.
In one case, my oral surgeon RXd me some 7.5 hydros last year and ONE almost put me in orbit. I'm used to 10s from the OPs.
Also, I've especially had problems with Norco (i.e., nausea and weak meds) from OPs.
I am also sick and tired of the deception, as my husband has no clue I order from OPs and would KILL me if he knew. The cc charges go without saying.
My saving grace finally came from a PM doctor. I still do, occasionally, order from OPs when I'm in a pinch, but I really hate to.
Yes, there IS a BIG difference in med quality. My cousin is a pharmacist and he told me that generic narcotics have a short shelf life. That's mostly what we get from OPs too. They probably buy up the expired meds.
They are making a fortune.
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charlijo
Stranger
Reged: 12/31/03
Posts: 3
Loc: arkansas
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add me to the list. op's r definitely weaker. would an expired med be like that or could the "recipe" be lacking by whoever makes them. and sooo exspensive. to buy 30 from the pharmacy here with doc's prescription is around $12. why do op's charge $180 even with a doctors office charge it doesn't come anywhere near that.
of course when u can't get the doc to refill and ur in dire pain at that moment any amount is worth it (almost)
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Charlotte
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Spectre13
Enthusiast
Reged: 12/10/03
Posts: 298
Loc: ThunderHeadTippyTops
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Quote:
why do op's charge $180 even with a doctors office charge it doesn't come anywhere near that.
Well, that's how a sadistic bastard works. When people become desperate enough to pay that much, they continue to charge that much (and more, as you know, having used expediameds).
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When you think it's beyond your comprehension, it probably just precedes it.
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Corrie
Board Addict
Reged: 07/16/02
Posts: 362
Loc: Southeast US
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Well at least I know I'm not alone in this thought process. I just received Mallinckrodt's 10/325's because Watson is "temporarily out of stock" of their generic Norco, and the pain relief I'm experiencing from these little white wonders is like I'm taking a placebo, or at most, a 2.5/325 (not sure if there is such an animal, but that's what it seems like). Add to that the fact that these practically crumble when I break them in half.
I really hate the fact that we, as chronic pain patients, cannot obtain adequate pain relief, and if we have to go to OP's, the pharmacy meds aren't always up to par, and some aren't even on the course.
Corrie
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manoman
Journeyman
Reged: 12/29/03
Posts: 54
Loc: Warm part of the Sun
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I'm glad to find this thread, as I was starting to think I was imagining it. I recently got some generic 10/325 norco (yellow ovals with 36|01 on one side and s strange symbol on the back), and they do almost nothing for me. I've had vicodin ES 7.5 in the past and they worked wonders. I don't understand why this new ones have virtually no effect.
These came from 610 Pharmacy in Houston. Is anyone else familiar with these pills or this pharmacy? Maybe it's just me.
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