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
Board Addict
Reged: 10/20/02
Posts: 352
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: 1247
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: 587
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: 587
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: 354
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: 166
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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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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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summit
Journeyman
Reged: 07/16/04
Posts: 73
Loc: twin peaks
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I NEED THEURL FOR ECKERD'S PRESCRIPTION MONOGRAPH'S, PLASE.
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