Watson Is Now Actavis Generic Percocet 5/325 What Is Up With This (Page 3) (Top voted first)

I had been taking 5/325 generic Watson percocet for 4 years. Suddenly I get notified by Walgreens which I have insurance that there is no more Watson brand and I was given generic percocet 5/325 by Actavis. It is not the same at all. It has no pain relief for me. I used to break the watsons in half sometimes and never had a funny taste. I just broke one of the actavis white tablets in half and it immediately tasted like salt or alka seltzer? Has anyone had any issues with this drug too. Also, along with it not working right it has made my GI tract and stomach so ill feeling and cramping. This is not right how can they take away a medicine that someone has been on for 4 years without any problems and tell them to suddenly switch. Would a peson who has been on a certain heart medication for years be told to suddenly switch that he can't get that medicine anymore? I don't think so. I don't know what I am going to do but when it comes time to have my rx re-filled it will not be with Actavis and I will have to pharmacy shop I guess to see if I can find Watson. I am very depressed now and so unhappy I can't believe it.

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The Actavis a333 does not work!!!!
I have been taking watson for 3 years and never had a single issue.

Then 2 months ago...I was given Actavis a349. It worked just like watson
The next month...I was given Actavis a333...it didn't work at all.

Its not the brand...its the FORMULATION.
I called Actavis and filed a complaint. They agreed but said they couldn't swap them for me...I hope they start supplying the a349 formula..a lot of people have been affected.

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Rammstein....try to ask ur dr for a 2 week supply script this way if u try the qualitest n they dont work for u..ur not stuck with em for 30 days. I haven't tried them but ive read mixed reveiws....a few of us have tried mallinkrodt n endocet...further into " this " thread I recall a few tried qualitest. Myself, n Lisa m take the endocet. ..they have been better than the mallinkrodt for me but nothing compares to watson....I dont care what anyone says....martin preferes mallinkrodt. ...so u see, each of these work different for each of us so u may have to do a trial n error shot. Just an fyi...endocet is made by the same company that makes brand Percocet. Please, as legnthy as this thread is...I think it is the most informative. ...gives the most links to other articles on the web....than ive seen here on web md. I also believe we have quite a few more dedicated members on this thread that care how the other is doing, updates eachothers with what we learn, experience, and find elsewhere. There is alot of info here..we ve all called actacrap n made complaints. ..fda...etc. just make sure whatever meds u choose to try, call the pharmacy u use in advance to order it. I know walgreens has ordered endocet for me...but only certain locations in town will. I hear cvs will as well. Try talking to ur dr about whats been goin on n ask for a new script....it works sometimes. If u give em ur actacrap in exchange for the script...it could help.....good luck n keep us informed!

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I hear ya. Life is hard enough plus the added stigma we get. These Actavis pain pills are very messed up! The Actavis Percocet 10/325 do not give me any pain relief.

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Hey all, I am wondering if Lola knew how big a can of crap she would open when she made the first post in February 2014. Hopefully she knows how much she has helped fellow pain patients and I want to thank her for that.

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As all of the posts have indicated, Actavis Percocet bites. I have had a few abdominal surgeries, including a c-section recovery, lapro gall bladder and last summer, had to have my 6-pack muscles pulled back and cinched into place. My Dr. ALWAYS prescribes Percocet for my pain. It works like no other meds do. Morphine, hydrocodone and Tramadol don't work for me at all. But the oxy type meds do the trick. I didn't have a care in the world about brand, until recently. I am 7 months post op and I take a muscle relaxer that also acts as a partial pain med. However, during certain times of my school year, like when I am on my feet 20 hours a day, my muscles are so tight and painful, I get the occasional Percocet prescription. My family practice Dr. was in Germany for a month and I couldn't get into my clinic with anyone else for 2 weeks, so I had no choice but to bite it an go to Urgent Care. They prescribed me a small dose of Percocet. I took my script, went to the all night Walgreens and left with my 7.5/325 Percs. Took one, along with my muscle relaxer and went to bed. I didn't sleep all night. I got up, and took another................still no sleep. I got up, went about my day and took one more..................nothing. I finally decided these Percocets were NOT doing their job. Surprise, Surprise..............Activis 7.5/325. I did know that Activis had bought out Watson, because my muscle relaxers are Watson. Thank God they still work well. So, I went back to the pharmacy and they of course, told me there was nothing they could do and I would have to go back to the dr and get a different prescription if I wanted something different. Which meant back to Urgent Care, right? 2 nights in a row, sitting in the ER, the second just to get the dang prescription changed. It all worked out well, the Dr., (a different one from the night before) said that he knows that this happens with generics. He asked if I had the Activis with me, I handed it over and they dispensed of it. He then called in to the in house Pharmacy (along with the paper I needed to pick it up) just pure oxycodone. Worked like a charm. So, you are not all crazy! Activis Percocet sucks. A couple of words of help: 1) Walgreens orders as a complete unit, so ALL Walgreens have the SAME brands of whatever drug. This was verified by the Walgreen's pharmacist when I first went there to complain. 2) I don't get my prescriptions from Target, but from what I read on the internet, they usually carry different brand names than Walgreens. 3) IF you live far enough North where you might be able to get to a Shopko, their pharmacy will order you in a different brand name and they will get it overnight. This is straight from the Shopko pharmacist's mouth. 4) if you have to get your script changed, and you are covered by insurance and co-pay, if your Dr. prescribes the exact drug for replacement (and you with hopes of getting a different brand at a different pharmacy), your insurance company may not pay for that SAME prescription, since you just had it filled and you probably got a months supply, right? So, if you go the route I went and went from Percocet to just Oxycodone, no problem. They aren't the same thing, so the insurance company paid. Plus the paperwork from the hospital clearly stated that I forfeited my crappy Activis and would be picking up the Oxycodone from the hospital pharmacy. Hope that helps.

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Actavais is Horribe. I take duragesic 75mcg and oxycodone 10-325 mg and have began seeing Actavais on what used to say Watson. This does not work so back to the drawing board I go for an adequate generic.

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I agree Martin, I started going to Shopko who carry Mallis which seem to work better for me. Actavis sucks and so does Walgreens.

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Honestly f*** Wallgreens, cvs is the best. Wallgreens questions every script and makes you wait for hours and always carries the s***tiest meds on every narcotic med out there. Go to cvs

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High five to Chili!! The only solution to this merry-go-round of addiction, is to detox OFF pain medication. Read Withdrawal Ease online and what George days!! He has helped thousands detox at home. Try it. For your sanity, do it. Life is so much clearer without pills.

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Sorry about all of the type O's. I'm still trying to adjust to this medication. I can usually walk at least a mile on my treadmill, but not today. I walked a little over a half mile and stopped. I just feel really off! I felt like my breathing was kind of labored, something I have not experienced before. I can't wait until next month, although I have over 20 days to deal with this!

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Hi Jan, Lisa, Lola:
Thank God at least I have found people who understand. This is driving me insane. My Pain Clinic called me back. They got me in in 3-18-14. Two more weeks. Whoopdedoo. I have to see a doctor as opposed to a PA. I'm sure he will rake me over the coals as usual.
I tried to call Actavis and was on hold. I compained to the Pharmacist and they were like who cares this is all we sell. The nurse at the Clinic didnt seem to know anything. I work as a finacial analyst for a company and look at numbers and analyze reports all day. By the end of the day, my brain and head are fried. Feel as if going crazy. Still dont understand, do I switch to Endocet, Roxi or just oure Oxycodone? Anyone know? The pharm also said Dilaudid but that is awfully strong. After dinner, I take a half of this Actavis crap and it helps for 10 minutes then makes me edgy, nauseous and painful. What is this crap drug? Keep posting ladies as I am going crazy. How id everyone else doing?

Martin

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I had the unfortunate experience of taking a Actavis 5/325 oxycodone/apap generic last night. I have never had such horrible heart palpatations or anxiety!! And it barely touched the severe headache I took it for and left me with a worse headache 2 hours after my second pill (6 hours apart.) I have contacted Walgreen's who claims they haven't had any complaints besides mine (yeah right) and I've emailed Actavis. I also downloaded the form to complain to the FDA and encourage you all to do the same. This is unacceptable. Here's the link to the FDA form. fda.gov/downloads/AboutFDA/ReportsManualsForms/Forms/UCM349464.pdf

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Hi Cole,

I think we should complain to the pharmacies. Complaining to Actavis isn't doing much good at this point. Walgreen's said, they aren't getting complaints so they think all is well. I'm going to call them tomorrow to complain again.

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Hi guys...im so glad I came across this thread...I too would use w algreens just because they used watson for their percocet 10/325 and they were the only ones that would work for me..I've used the same pharmacy/location like clockwork...they knew exactly who I was when I pick up my meds every month...a week ago I go pick email up and pull out of the drive thru n check my bag only to notice they were a different generic...ACTAVIS! I went back around to the window n asked what happened n told them I can't use anything other than watson n they told me thats what theyre using now n they can't take email back...what nerve not to tell their patients before taking possession of them. I told the pharmacist they dont work n he replied,"they should...no reason not to, theyre still percocet". How does he not know there are differences? I am soooo mad! These are not working n making me so tired n sluggish I can't stand it! If someone tries another pharmacy generic and find it works, please send me a reply letting me know...PRERELEASE! Thank you guys!

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Thanks for the information about the Mallinckrodt brand. I will certainly be using that one this time. I'm scared to try Qualitest now, as I've heard too many bad things about it. The worse being, it's no better than Actavis. I can't imagine another month of this!

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Cole, I called and Publix and Target both carry the Mallinkrofdt generic percocets. I hope this helps.

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Hello. I just want to tell everyone I have been on Watson 10/325 for years and in December Walgreens had a shortage so I had to go somewhere else. I was given Mallinckrodt brand and I had complete pain relief. They were so much better then watson for me. If this helps anyone. I also noticed I could go longer in between doses because it worked so good. I had no side effects and I was fine with the switch.

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Hello again,
It's Angela- I had to stop taking the actavis Percocet b/c my head feels like it's going to explode! Not to mention all I want to do is sleep. Still have GI issues, but the headache is by far the worst symptom. I did get a hold of my dr and they are going to give me another rx and discard these. I have been calling many pharmacies around town( especially the smaller independently owned ones;) in hopes of finding some Watson Percocet remaining in their stock. This truly sucks!!! I called my insurance co and asked about the brand name Percocet & naturally it's excluded from coverage without an appeal. In everyone's honest opinion, which generic brand would you take if you had no other choice? HELP! My pain was finally controllable with the Watson brand; in fact, at times I didn't even have to take them every 4hours. Now this happens- it really sucks!

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Hi Martin...No..we are not crazy! I posted the link in a message but they didnt post it. I have been trying since yesterday morning to let u all know what I read. This morning I checked this blog n nothing I sent was here so I tried again with as little info as possible in hopes of my message being posted so u guys know what's up. I read it on the internet. Generics and Biosimilars Initiative is where I saw it. It talked about actavis making an abuse deterant generic oxycodone. So the oxycodone in the actavis percocets we have been taking are a completely different formula..they had to of removed ingredients n added ot ghat ers to make it abuse deterant. We all have been going through withdrawals from the watson and gettin sick from what they used to formulate their generic. Apparently it hasn't been approved by the FDA so 2014 is basically their trial run if I understood what I read correctly. Check it out n read it. You mentioned you got a different script yesterday. What is it and is it working? I wish we were all able to call eachother n talk about our experiences...kind of like a support system without having to keep posting messages n waiting to see if its approved to post. I have to type a security code every time I try to post a message n I dont know why? Its frustrating!

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Hi everyone,

I just wanted everyone to know, if you type in Actavis in the search box, there is a whole different thread going on about how it doesn't work. I found that out by accident, when I didn't have the link to go to from my email. I was surprised that a whole different group of people are complaining about it.

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