Opioids Am I just going insane or what?!

[ccox88]

So, here's the deal. I have been taking hydros on a daily basis now for maybe 6 to 8 weeks. My tolerance isn't bad at this point so I have only been taking 25mgs once a day for the last couple weeks. During that time I have used several different potentiators such as dextro, promethazine, tums, and naproxen. And until yesterday my pills have been generic lortabs made by watson. I've used these with no problems whatsoever.

But, yesterday I acquired some generic norco 10/325 made by vintage pharmaceuticals. So, I took my normal dose of 25mgs, along with some coricidin cough & cold which has 30mg dextro and 4mg chlorpheniramine maleate and 2 tums. The first hour I felt the normal come up, followed by about 4 hours of horrible anxiety and sweating. I thought maybe it was caused by lack of sleep and the antibiotic called Bactrim that i've been on for a couple days.

Anxiety is not uncommon for me and I take cymbalta and seroquel because of it. But, normally when i take hydro it relaxes me. I have taken the same 25mg norco dose twice more since the first episode and am still feeling lots of anxiety and more nausea than usual when I take it. So what's the problem?

My question is, is there some difference between manufacturers that could be causing this? The norco feels stronger at the same exact dose. Plus the added anxiety which I've never gotten from the watson hydros. Can anyone confirm or deny this strange phenomenon I am experiencing? I always thought that they should work exactly the same since it's just hydrocodone and acetaminophen.

Anyways, sorry for the long post. I might just be losing my mind. But if anyone out there could give me some input based on their experience I would really appreciate it.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[rld73]

I would guess that something else is going on.. my experience with Norco was about a 2 year deal before I was sent to Pain Management and I am sure that I had about every brand of it.. they all did me the same.

Everyone is different tho.. and I take Xanax for anxiety.. so maybe I just got lucky and never got those kind of feelings from Hydros at all. I did have a DNA test done recently and found out that my body doesn't process Codeine products the way it should (and Tramadol as well) so they have me on Oxy and Fentanyl now.

Maybe you should ask your doc for one of those DNA tests.. could be something to do with the way your body is metabolizing the Codeine based products in general.

 

[Redrawl]

My question is, is there some difference between manufacturers that could be causing this? The norco feels stronger at the same exact dose.

Yes. Even if it's the same ingredient at exact the same dose, it can give different effects due to the different pill binders/fillers/colorants and/or because the pill dissolves different (quicker, slower etc.) from the other tablet.

 

[fairnymph]

I had a sort of opposite reaction - I've taken Norcos for menstrual pain for 10 years, and once I got my script filled with Watson tabs. I found them less effective for my pain, like they contained less hydrocodone, and they also made me intolerably nauseated. I've been careful since to avoid Watson. I also had the same response to generic Fiorinal with codeine made by Watson.

It's quite common to have different responses to different brands/genetics; drs have even told me this. It's probably a filler or binder, as Redrawl said.

 

[ccox88]

Thanks for all the good responses. Maybe my system just needs to get used to them. The anxiety is somewhat better as the week has went on. The nausea is definitely still bothering me though. It's like i've lost my appetite. It just sucks at the moment because I have these pills and no other options.