Karma2678
Enthusiast
Reged: 07/23/03
Posts: 200
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I have been taking hydro 10/500 (watson) for my pain for about 6 months and have developed a tolerance to it. I would like to be able to taper down, but the pain is becoming unbearable even with the medication. There really is not a higher strength medication I can order from an OP and was wondering if I asked for Brand name next time would it make a differnce? And if so, what is the price difference from anyone using NWW brand name hydro? Right now I am only prescribed the 3 daily until my next consult then I can ask to be prescrbed 4 daily which may make a differnce but if brand name would help I may just need to do that. Or does anyone know any other medication that helps along with the hydro for pain relief. My condition is a ruptured disk, migraine headaches, along with endometriois. Also, if I have not been prescribe the other drug before by my doctor will the OP prescribe it for me?
Thank you for your response!
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~~~ Karma ~~~
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theborg
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/20/02
Posts: 284
Loc: Boston
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I think I remember reading that Watson makes the "brand name" hydro. I know it sounds crazy. Someone correct me if I am wrong.
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Forget your fears and want no more
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Trampy
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/02/02
Posts: 1225
Loc: Southwest U.S.
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Watson's generic 10/325 is identical in every respect to Watson's Norco ... except for the imprint code and price, that is. A Watson generic 10/500 is not exactly the same as a name-brand Lortab 10/500 only because they're made by different companies. The Watson generics for Lorcet and Lortab seem to be slightly smaller than the name brands. The pressure used to form the tablet as well as its binders and fillers will affect how quickly it is absorbed, or whether the absorption rate is affected by stomach content, pH, etc.
If you think about the economics of generics competing against name-brand drugs and consider that the cost of an extra half or full milligram of hydrocodone per 10-mg tab might lead to higher sales and higher profits from a near-nil incremental cost of goods, the "neo-name-brand" Watson hydro/apap that people seem to prefer might possibly contain slightly more than the nominal strength ... to gain consumer preference.
As long as they don't exceed FDA's 5 or 10% accuracy rule (i haven't looked up what it is and how it's calculated), they might make the tablets slightly stronger than necessary.
This is just speculation. I haven't looked at the FDA regs to see if they could get in trouble for doing this intentionally.
Trampy
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Your mileage may vary ...
Edited by Trampy (02/22/04 07:42 PM)
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mpcagh
Member
Reged: 12/27/03
Posts: 130
Loc: California
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There have been varying opinions about the differences between one brand of hydro and another. It is possible that one brand of hydro may work better for you, but I don't know if that difference will be significant enough to cover the extra pain you are feeling. If the pain is worsening (or your tolerance is getting higher), then maybe you should see your doctor about getting something else for the pain. I'm not sure about the price differnces between generic and brand.
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"There's a fine line between love and hate, and a mile full of lessons in between." William M. Siegel, Jr.
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tone
Veteran
Reged: 06/29/03
Posts: 521
Loc: Chicago
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[edit]
Hi Karma, im afraid i dont believe that switching your brand of hydrocodone would make your tolerance disappear, however some people cliam one brand is better than another.
one person even claimed that if he took his meds with Dr Pepper indtead of mt dew, it made his meds "10x" (10 times stronger)
the only solution here is to deal with the tolerance by taking a break from the meds. there are also theories as to what can help tolerance, i e proglimide, NMDA antagonist, etc. it seems there is no easy solution yet to tolerance and im afraid brand name is not one of them
~tone
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3141592654
Stranger
Reged: 03/02/02
Posts: 7
Loc: Ohio, USA
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hydro is hydro is hydro...enough said. Anyone who thinks there is a difference...
Wayne-
Edited by Heidi (02/23/04 12:52 AM)
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Karma2678
Enthusiast
Reged: 07/23/03
Posts: 200
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Thank you for your response. Tone I don't quite understand the beginning of your response about a joke?? Maybe you could clarify or maybe I was not very clear in my question. I have heard that different brands work stronger than others and since I have always taken generic brands and not brand names I thought maybe the brand was stronger this being why they cost more. I thought possibly brand hydro was better quality than the generic and was wondering since even though I am taking my meds the same as I was before and they were releiving it and now they are not working as well a better quality hydro may be what I needed. I had also heard some take a type of muscle relaxer along with the hydro and thought it could work. But, the person could be taking the relaxer for another reason. I am just in extreme pain from my endometriosis right now and was looking for some way to relieve it. All kidding aside.
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~~~ Karma ~~~
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tone
Veteran
Reged: 06/29/03
Posts: 521
Loc: Chicago
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i hear tagamet, a CYP2D6 inhibitor enhances hydrocodone. i should start a post about this
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mpcagh
Member
Reged: 12/27/03
Posts: 130
Loc: California
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The hydro is exactly the same in the brand and the generic. The brand costs more because of the research that went into developing the medication. After a certain period of time the patent on a medication runs out and other companies are allowed to produce and sell the medication, usually at a significantly cheaper price (since they don't have to make up for money spent on research and development). THe generics have the exact same type and amount of active ingredient (ie hydrocodone), although they may use different inactive ingredients. THe difference in inactive ingredients accounts for differences that some people report between brands (ie some cause them to feel nauseous, others don't).
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"There's a fine line between love and hate, and a mile full of lessons in between." William M. Siegel, Jr.
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Karma2678
Enthusiast
Reged: 07/23/03
Posts: 200
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I do have that problem with Mallies making me feel nauseaus everytime I try to use that brand I am extremely sick. I guess why I asked about brand vs. generic is because when I went to a dr. appt a while back and was prescribed Darvocet the dr. said that he was requesting brand only on the RX because in some meds the generic are the same and in others like pain medicine and anxiety medication they are not equal in quality. I knew this doctor on personal level ( I watched his child). At that time I was able to use a medical hospital so I got my medicine for free therefore I did not have to worrry about the difference in cost of the medication and since he knew that he did prescribe medication to me that he normally would not have prescribed to patients that had to pay for their prescriptions. That may have had something to do with his decision. He may have been talking about Brand name Darvocet vs. Propoxphene it's generic. The first type of hydro I was taking was brand vicodin ES 7.5 mill. which relieved my pain better than the lortab 10/500 does now, but the vicodin ES had 750 mill. of tylenol which I don't feel I should continue to use often. Also, this is when I was new to hydro and had no tolerance at all. I will need to take a holiday to get some better pain relief in the future I do have other pain medications I can take like Darvocet for some relief during the process.
Thank you for all of your help. And thank you Tone for editing the beginning of your post. Your concern for my feelings is greatly appreciated. As well as your great advice which I will look into.
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~~~ Karma ~~~
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booker
Board Addict
Reged: 08/15/03
Posts: 348
Loc: The Moon
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I have read several posts this past year where people have said that they cut down on hydro and took ultram with it or instead of. I, personally, have no experience with this way to cut back on hydro usage, but perhaps some other members may have some insight??
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"would you like to swing on a star, carry moonbeams home in a jar, and be better off than you are, or would you rather be a ....."
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micswavo
Stranger
Reged: 02/23/04
Posts: 3
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Back a few years ago, my doc took me off hydro and gave me ultram. I was in pain with the hydro so I went along with it. I never knew how well the hydro worked!!! I was in bed for 3 mths. Couldn't get out!
That is how well ultram worked for me. What a joke!
Get some burp to take your hydro holiday. It works well for w/d's and the pain.
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macck999
Stranger
Reged: 11/15/04
Posts: 3
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where do u get hydro plz tell me pm me k
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MetsFan
Member
Reged: 09/21/03
Posts: 148
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Hi,
Hydro is hydro. I would taper or get medical help. People find comfort in all kinds of stuff, changing your everyday habits, staying out of work during the taper, etc. PM me if you have any other questions about this topic.
MetsFan
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mas
Journeyman
Reged: 04/06/04
Posts: 87
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Brand Norco at NWW is $159 vs generic @ $110...
However, the Brand Norco @ YPM is only $127 (or 129, can't recall exact, just know it's about 30 bucks cheaper)and the generic is I believe, $92... decent price difference, even when you account for the 100 count vs the 120... since you ge 3 refills.
Now... I personally WAY prefer the brand, it's my favorite of all the hydro meds. I have been getting the Zydone, this is my second order, and it is much stronger than the generic Norco too... I am not sure I like it as well as the brand norco after all....while I think in many ways it is a superior med, it seems to make me a little excessively nauseated... I think after my refills, even though the Zydone is stronger, and works within 15 short minutes, seriously... that my system just agrees better with the brand Norco. Now, some people do not notice a difference, and some will even tell you it's in your head if it works better but that is simply NOT true. Brand Norco, for MANY works much, much better... even my husband who is very frugal financially, prefers me to get the Brand, as he thinks it saves us money in the long run, since I seem to need less, and take it less often.
You can pm me, I am feeling crappy and nauseous, so not up to all the details, but hopefully the Zydone will calm down a tad later in the day and I can elaborate for you. YPM has better prices on many, take a look, there is a thread on the forum with most of the pharm prices... just my opinion, but no matter where you order from, Brand all the way in my opinion...
mas
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rockystuart
Enthusiast
Reged: 03/11/04
Posts: 213
Loc: San Fran Bay Area, Calif
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GUYs - Watson brand generic hydro 10/325 is EXACTLY the same as BRAND NORCO. WATSON makes the NORCO tablets - and it is more cost effective to just press the same powder into pills than make a sepaqrate batch.
But then there is also the placebo effect which WILL cure pain about 25% of the time. I personally would just take generics and sugar pills and convince myself that was more effective. You can buy lots of boxes of 'red hotss' for the price difference!
SOME generics (In my experience the Mallenkrot) ARE buffered more some the initial phases opf effect are slower -- so I do go with the WATSON's for generic.
Like it was said above ' hydro is hydro ' but I like yellow coloured pain pills better - for ID purposes.
As long as Xanax is purple or white bars aND PIN PILLS ARE YELLOW THEY MY OTHER PILLS CAN CHANGE COLOURS IF THEY WANT TO.
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fred_s
Member
Reged: 11/18/03
Posts: 131
Loc: SE USA
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Rocky, you like the COLORS of 10/325 Watson's & Norco's????
LOL! That's a good one. As opposed to the BLUE color of 10/500'S??> (which seem to work best for me)
Whatever - it's just an unusual reaction to the colors that I think is fascinating. I suppose if you're in pain it doesn't make any difference to me what the color is....
However, WHITE pills seem so angelic, don't they?
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"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us."
-Helen Keller
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fred_s
Member
Reged: 11/18/03
Posts: 131
Loc: SE USA
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Disregard this...I just wanted to see what happens when I hit one hundred posts....
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"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us."
-Helen Keller
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clueless1
Newbie
Reged: 07/05/04
Posts: 28
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The reason for using the ultram in lieu of the hydro is to cut bsck on the hydro and thereby lower yout tolerance while minimizing the withdrawel symptoms from the hydro. After some time using the y]ultram you can then use less hydro to get the analgesic effects your used to in your early days of usage. In my opinion there is really no going back though.
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