When I fill my monthly generic prescription for oxycodone, I sometimes get pills made by different manufacturers. It seems like some work better than others, same dose - same drug! Does anyone else have this experience?
Oxycodone - Is there a difference in manufacturers of generic drugs?
Question posted by Anniebananie12 on 1 July 2013
Last updated on 30 April 2025
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
79 Answers Page 4
MissLC
19 Dec 2017
Hello,
I've required multiple pain medications in the highest dosages, for nearly eleven years.
I've been prescribed almost every type of pain medication available, both brand and generic... and yes, there's absolutely a difference between them, ranging from slight to a gaping chasm.
I found this site after researching generic brands of Oxycodone, manufacturered by KVK TECHNOLOGIES. I've taken both Oxycodone (which is IR) and OxyContin (the ER of Oxycodone) for five years and while I've definitely had highs and lows with different brands- it's only with my most recent prescription filled with the KVK TECH brand - where I felt zero pain relief- then slowly experiencing the all too familiar withdrawal symptoms and feeling really, really sick.
From what I've read so far, it's the combination of having the lowest amount of active oxycodone, along with seriously questionable inactive ingredients.
Whatever "fillers" they use have caused awful side effects: intense itching, headaches, nausea and clammy/sweaty skin... and then anxiety, irritability and aches - the latter could be from the drug or withdrawals.
While I understand a persons chemistry and sensitivity influences their individual reaction- KVK's composition is obviously inherently flawed.
Point being, I've never had any reaction this negative and with such little pain relief, from a pain medication, that's left me extremely outraged. That a company could knowingly produce such an inferior product, especially when it's marketed/sold for moderate to severe pain, to undercut competitors, sell for the lowest price... leaving pain patients, who are already struggling for pain relief with these new restrictive laws, to suffer ... is beyond unacceptable.
I'm filing a formal complaint with KVK TECH as well as the FDA, and AMA. I'd urge anyone who has experienced similar issues to do the same; as "en masse" is the most effective way to draw attention when dealing with large corporations.
I'm interested to see the results from an independent lab- a breakdown of their ingredients and percentages of oxycodone.
I have a feeling there's many more vicitms that haven't come forward.
I'd like to hear from anyone who's had similar reactions, and had no pain relief.
Thank you and God Bless.
annykat
22 Dec 2017
I was given a generic which was oblong. I didn't get the manufacturer name. But it made me itch terribly. So now the only place that doesn't carry that around here is Walgreens There's is round & doesn't make me itch. it's the 5-325 A-349. the other problem is I am in Florida for the winter & Walgreens keeps running out of them. My pain Dr. Said everyone is complaining. So I don't know what is going on.
biggyjames64
14 Jan 2018
You are right i have been on same medication for 5 years for
pain and the drug store i used to go started selling the kvk and like you said they were not working like they are supposed to, but this is all this drug store will buy(cheap i guess), they bought like a two or three-year Supply to save money I guess ,but this brand does not work for me, I like the Mallinckrodt brand better.Had to switch drug stores.
J3579
27 July 2018
You are exactly right regarding KVK TECH Oxycodone 30 Mg Tablets. This company is corrupt. They hire only immigrant H1-B visa workers who are uneducated & unqualified to be making/producing medications for public consumption. Quality assurance being told to "Pass" Oxycodone even though testing way under FDA specifications... They are way under-dosing the Oxycodone causing severe "Withdrawal Symptoms". They are not using anywhere near enough of the "Active ingredient" for this medication to be effective. This brand is all my pharmacy will carry and because of this each & every month I am left with severe uncontrolled pain & suffering. This is not right. Why the FDA has not stepped in yet and done an investigation is beyond me. There is so, so many complaints against this manufacturer for their Oxycodone being completley ineffective.
Its completley unacceptable that this is happening and yet this company continues to under cut every competitor out there literally selling these ineffective oxycodone tablets for literally pennies on the dollar to pharmacys nationwide. They are able to do so as they are using less active ingredient to yeild bigger batches and obviously making the active ingredient go farther. For example: Instead of putting the correct amount of active ingredient in their Oxycodone 30mg tablets and yeilding (2 Batches) that meet FDA regulations... they are cutting the amount of "Active ingredient" down to less than half then are able to yeild (6 Batches) thus getting more money as they have much more tablets to sell. They are very corrupt. The head/owner of this Company was actually BANNED by the FDA in the 90's for criminal conduct yet he is still the one running this company. When FDA agents do show up on site, he leaves. This company should have been shut down for continously making inferior medications for public consumption that very clearly do not meet FDA Guidelines yet they are allowed to continue to mass produce this garbage medication??? Leaving the unknowing consumer who gets their RX filled by their pharmacy with this corrupt manufacturers medication only to be stuck with an inferior product leaving them in pain and on top of that Withdrawal is so completely unacceptable. These medications need to be tested/regulated better by FDA for quality. There is such dire consequences for the patient when they receive an inferior medication like this that it is imperative these are regulated/tested Constantly for quality assurance yet FDA does nothing. As long as KVK TECH is being allowed to manufacture & sell "Under-Dosed" medication... they will continue to do so as it yields them a bigger profit margin. The "Fake Opioid Crisis" has caused such mass hysteria and all these laws/regulations being passed as to Mg MME mandates etc... that having to jump through extreme hoops to even get a RX then to be filled an given a product that does not even work is so unbelievable. People must come forward and file complaits on FDA Website about KVK TECH. I urge everyone who has received this inferior Oxycodone by this manufacturer to please speak up. This needs to be stopped. This corrupt manufacturer has taken over large pharmacy chains nationwide such as Kroger, Safeway, Walgreens etc... you have a very large chance of getting stuck with this brand due to the large pharmacy chains only carrying this particular brand and they have been doing so for many years with no change of manufacturers in sight. This must be stopped. If this was a Heart Medication, or Blood pressure medication etc... This sub standard quality would not be allowed but because its a pain medication its allowed to be under dosed and ineffective??? THIS IS WRONG. Please everyone who has been affected by receiving this under dosed, inneffective medication speak up so changes come... Go online file Formal complaint w/ FDA immediately. This corrupt manufacturer must be stopped.
MaddMom40
30 Sep 2018
I am currently experiencing the exact same thing! The brand I’ve been on from cvs is a joke! I thought there was something seriously wrong with me until I did this search! I’ve only been on my pain medicine about 5 months so I knew there was no way my tolerance was already so messed up. I KNEW it was the brand because I can take 15mg of a different brand and be fine for 3-4 hours but when I take 1 20 mg it’s like I didn’t even take anything! And I even tried a second one just to see and could barely even tell! We have got to stand up for ourselves and I agree, we need to do it together so maybe they’ll listen! It’s ridiculous to charge so much for a medicine that’s so weak it causes more issues than before getting the prescription! I’m calling to request my pharmacist special order my meds but I have a feeling they couldn’t care less! I’m trying to figure out how to call around to find the brand that I know for a fact does work for me. I’m so glad to find this website to validate my suspicions!
Lee27
1 March 2019
KVK-Tech Oxycodone provides me ZERO pain relief. I don't know how to endure 30 days of this HELL. I can barely walk from bed to the bathroom. I was put on this as a there patient died from too much Tylenol and agreed to trying the same thing with no Tylenol & to take Tylenol as needed. The pharmacy will not take it back, except to dispose of it '& by law, my Dr. cannot prescribe another. This garbage is not legal in other countries to qualify as a generic!
ken kaliski
4 Dec 2017
I like to say there is a difference in oxycodone. I go to the say pharmacy each month. This past November my pills are a white in color. There always blue in color. These last white ones are not doing there job. I cannot feel relief on these last ones I received. Any suggestion on what to do.
Katharine Dupre
30 Sep 2017
I have experienced that you are correct with several different types of drugs. Different manufacturers' products are slightly different in the way they are produced which makes the end product also slightly different.
Theoretically one 7.5/325mg if Oxycodone/APAP should be the same as one and a half pills of 5-325mg of Oxycodone/APAP but in the case I'm quoting that's not true; the one and a half dose of 5-325mg acted better in the system than the 7.5mg dose.
Daprez
8 Sep 2017
I recently was given a different manufacturer and noticed an immediate difference. I have only been taking 10/325 for a year so I cut mine in half. I took them for a week and was having to take a full pill to even take the edge off of my pain. I still had some of the old pills so I took a half of that and I was back on business... it's not in your head. It's absolutely a difference by manufacturer. The ones that didn't work looked like a big Roland tablet and were manufactured by the "Midlothian" pharmaceutical company... I do not recommend them. I don't like taking pills and was even more concerning with having to take a full pill instead of a half. I told my doctor about this and he was the one that mentioned that other patients had complained about the same thing. That is how I ended up here. I googled it and saw that others have experienced the same problem. Next month when I turn my script in, I will ask the pharmacist at PUBLIX which ones they have and will take it somewhere else if that one is still being given out.
Mandy_R
13 Aug 2017
Personally, mallinkrodt is the best for me... can't remember what I took before... but I was on it for 3 years and it stopped helping. I find it more.absorbable and softer to break apart for half doses. I take Topamax for bipolar and the generic for them varies wildly. One version from Cipla in the their own factory packaging, makes me vomit and get horrible heartburn ,however, the kind packaged from the pharmacy is fine. ... Amneal. is fine ... both in and out packaging
annykat
13 Aug 2017
All I know is the round ones work & the oblong ones make me itch. I haven't asked who the makers are.
Luci Luci
13 Aug 2017
YES! The different generic companies have a range in which they can make the drug. It is made following a plus or minus .05 of the brand's narcotic composition.
Bonbon11
18 June 2017
I have had rhoads ocycodone 10mg/325 and both times I suffered in pain. I really think there's no oxycodone in them seriously they are the worst by far I've ever had. Please make sure before you get script filled to ask if they are rhoads or marked rp and if so I'd suggest just refusing and ask for different manufacturer. Terrible ineffective pills !!! I also end up with bad Chest pain in my sernum 20 min after taking them.
Tallyjay
18 Nov 2017
Thanks for the info . I almost bought that crap
Lucy62
9 May 2017
Yes!! I have cancer and have been on oxycodone 20 mg, and oxycontin 20 mg for about 4-5 years now. I have also been in 4 different hospitals throughout that time. Each hospital has given me roxy's I.r(15 mg and a 5 mg) and oxycontin 20 e.r.. ..by about the 4th or 5th dose of the oxycodone I.r, I start to feel like I'm going thru withdrawals! No joke..The generics are yellow 15mg, and a 5mg which is white. I even saved up a dose(while in severe pain to see if I could get some relief by taking 40mg..and nothing..absolutely nothing... So I ended up in 4 extra hours in pain. I finally get relief after taking both the e.r. And i.r.At the same time..So I know for a fact it's not in my head... there is a difference in the different brands..The oxy's that I take have kvk-tech on them. So when I get home I took one 20mg, that was at 6:30ish and it was like taking it for the first time. I finally took another one at 1am... I always take them every 4 hours promptly..
Got a hell of a buzz (which I wasn't looking for) and immediate relief. So, I believe there's is a quality control issues with generics. I know it's not in MY HEAD!
Candall9
9 May 2017
I didn't think they still made any 15mg IR's that were another color besides Green? I know that they USED to quite a long time ago but that brand no longer exists. Trust me, I've seen every brand, in every MG. Also, to me, I don't think there's a difference in brand as far as effectiveness. IN FACT, they don't even make the name brand "Roxicodone" anymore! That should go to show how much difference there is between the brands/generics. The "brand name" Roxi was sold to Mallinckrodt (the version that has the "M" stamp on them). Not many people know this.
So in conclusion, it's all in people's heads whether or not one is stronger/weaker vs another brand in the same mg. To me, it just comes down to taste/how much "filler" there is.
Lucy62
11 May 2017
Well, I've seen them take the pills out of the packets that says ROXICODONE. Was just release from Ohio State university and was given 15 mg ROXI and 5 mg to equal 20mg. The other two hospitals I've seen them in are in wv..I can certainly tell the difference..it's crazy!
Lucy62
15 May 2017
To candall9: fyi, I was looking at oxycodone info on THIS site and roxicodone popped up and gave all the info on the drug like any other drug... I'm sorry, don't know where your info is coming from but that brand is the original brand actually and oxycodone is in fact a generic per this article! Even I didn't know that until recently. So when I was getting oxycodone in the hospital that came out of the packets with the name Roxicodone on it, I certainly wasn't imagining it! LOL. Even the nurses would say it's time for your roxi's.
missneo714
1 May 2017
one thing i can say is for me personally..there is absolutely a difference ..i suffer with chronic ra pain i have been on oxys for 8 yrs now..last 2 oxy 20s... it was A/51 or 214 on it..they worked very well... then one day i picked up a new script and immediately got worried..i thought i was getting use to them..didnt seen to last as long..didnt work as quickly and on top of it i was very sleepy all the time..the worst... i checked to see if they made a mistake..and nope just a different brand tvk... or whatever... i have has some older pills saved for emergencies and sure enough took it and quickly seen i was not getting use to the dose... it was just affecting me very differently..now 5 months later i have gained 20 lbs from sleeping more and having more pain...
i take 20 mg every 4 hrs so No..its not in ur head..we r all unique people and some more sensitive then others..my pain management drs also said you never know with company overseas as different laws and quality controls may vary... he did not seem surprised . i am hoping this new pharmacy is going to have the one that worked well for me... but to me anything gotta be better then these k-57s... i am tired all the time get headaches easy and in more pain then usual... blessings and peace to all
Tammytrehan1
14 April 2017
I recently had a bad experience, I've been taking 15 milligram oxycodone HCL for almost 2year's I was always given the same pill little greenish blue pill with a v on one side, never had a problem until last month the pharmacy substituted it with a lighter blue pill with a m inside a box on one side, I always assumed all generics we're the same, were all different genetically, and we may or may not be on other medications, generics may work fine for some,and not the other I just learned the pills I were taking that worked are qualitest brand, the substitute was mallinckrodt brand and the mallinckrodt brand suck ,it took at least a hour almost two for a minimum Pain relief, but also onset headaches, and extremely dry mouth, excessive thirst, that wouldn't go awy,no matter how much water I drank, I went to the Dr yesterday, and the Dr called CVS to make sure they give me qualitest, after the first pill I felt so much better,
my back pain was almost gone,headache disappeared within 20 minutes, I'll never ,accept the bag again until the tech checks to make sure it qualitest in the bottle
Drtwyman
25 March 2017
I suffer from chronic pain and have been taking 10/325 percocet for 10 years. I've noticed a quality difference between suppliers. CVS was my pharmacy for 7 years and for an example they had 8 suppliers they purchased meds from and they eventually stopped using that one because of complaints. My best recommendation is to use a big name pharmacy such as Sam's Club and CVS. I've had no luck at places like Drug Mart, Rite Aid , Marc's. Find a pharmacy and stick with them.
annykat
25 March 2017
I find Walgreens the best for mine. CVS has the "itchy one" as does my grocery store pharmacies.
etm567
22 Dec 2017
There is someone on this thread who says there cannot be any fillers or binders. That is nonsense. They have to have something to hold them together. I have lots of food allergies and have had to take mallinckrodt because it is one of the few that does not have corn starch in it.
JustForLove
20 March 2017
Yes! I've always felt that way but this last two months it was proven! My pharmacy gave me one brand of oxycodone to only switch it the next month! I immediately thought that my body had gotten use to that dosage in just one month and the side effects had eased up! However, the following month they switched back to the original brand and all those old side effects came right with It!
Now I'm convinced that some generic manufacturers prescription are more potent than others! Leaving the medication to work differently as well as the way you respond to It!
My question to doctors now is, how can you know what is or isn't a true dosage for the condition if all manufacturers medications aren't created equally?
bobstreet1
9 March 2017
M brand are the best oxycodone 30s.
cmk111
7 March 2017
Yes. I found huge diff from walmart script to new guardian who uses rhodes pharmacy
GRAMYBEAR
25 Jan 2017
This has always seemed to be a problem for many drugs that are generic. When I notice that my pills are not the same as the month before, I look on the bottle and it will say, "this is the same medication". I am not sure why they change manufacturers. I do know that a new drug cannot be sold in generic form until it's been on the market for 7 years, which is why they can sell non generic for so much money. Your Pharmacist will have the best answer for you. I hope this helps though. Hugs
Related topics
oxycodone, chronic pain, generic, prescription
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- Oxycodone uses and safety info
- Oxycodone prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Oxycodone (detailed)
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