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 17 July 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.
80 Answers Page 5
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
OT72657
24 Jan 2017
Yes! When I went to pick up my Oxycodone the pharmacist told me it was a different manufacturer, and asked me if this was okay. I didn't think much of it, so I said yes. What a mistake!
First off, it doesn't seem to work as well or as long and in addition to that, when it wears off it is like hitting a brick wall.
I get sweaty shaky and wobbly. This happens several times a day so I am miserable. I have until 2/10 before my next fill and I don't know if I can take going through this until then.
ra2ra3
16 May 2017
Do you recall the names of the 2 dif ones? What was the "good" original one -.and what was the brand of the "bad" brick-wall ones... the substitute? Thx
kp602
14 March 2018
Hang in there dude! You survived, yet prepare for next refill. Don't accept bad generics. Others have been giving me insight into better quality manufacturers.
Good luck. Thanks for sharing and hope you are better. I feel your pain.:-)
Jwolf11508
11 Dec 2016
In my experience there a huge difference in different brands and i take 20-30 mg oxycodone and feel some 30s are 30 while others are claiming to be 30 feel more like 5-20mg and do not last nearly as long..
KB1969
28 Oct 2016
I have had the same issue. Watson and Rhodes work great, I can take 1-2 depending on my pain level and get 4-6 hours of relief. I have had a couple of other brands. KVK Tech being one and 4 won't give me 2 hours of relief. I was told the binders in each are different and that can make a difference. I have no idea why, since the actual active is the same in each one. If anyone can explain this better it would be helpful.
PaulMartin
24 July 2016
I spoke with my pharmacist as I notice a HUGE difference with brand Watson vs Mallinckrodt regarding Hydrocodone 10/325 (Norco). The Mallinckrodt (M) version is inferior to Watson (W) whereas I notice it takes 2 M for the same as W. He said there is a 15-20% allowance/delta for active ingredients as compared to brand name, and you damn know it will always be on the unfavorable, so the "M" version is probably closer to 8mg of hydro than 10mg in each tablet.
Bache
8 July 2016
It is interesting reading everyone`s input., but has anyone ever had the "generic" oxycodone independently tested by a govt. registered laboratory. It seems everyone assumes the same thing- that the tabsule they are taking has been manufactured by a reputable company... Has anyone checked further up the "manufacturing chain" Where does the pill manufacturer source his supply of oxycodone from? He might be quite genuine in what he is making, but what if in his effort to source "cheaper" ingredients, he could be using from a substandard source! I have just had the experience in hospital of having a dose of Endone which should have knocked an elephant flat, but in reality I may as well have swallowed chalk..perhaps that IS all it was? How do I find out... I think then ,that there is two answers to your question- 1 There is no difference between the active ingredients of generics THIS IS THE LAW!
2.The only way to find out, is to have the various substances laboratory tested.
To illustrate the point I am making- I also discovered that often times that 100metre rolls of adhesive tape usually only have 93metres or less (BUT NO-ONE EVER UNROLLS A NEW ROLL OF TAPE TO CHECK, I was the first person evidently to do this ) . The same with toilet paper -whoever checks that a new roll of toilet paper is as long as the label says? That a tin of Chicken & vegetable soup really has 20% chicken (by weight), that the label claims? (I checked 4 different brands and not one came anywhere to the claimed meat content)
Often products are imported from other countries which do not have the same regard for standards as we do.
The same goes for drug manufacturing. Fortunately we do have laws in this country to protect us... but how often do we read in the media of URGENT RECALLS of various drugs due to issues in manufacturing... mostly we are not told where they have been made, only what the problem is.
We only see the end product . We do not know how it was made, how much it cost to manufacture, the cost of development, etc... but every one wants to save money, the manufacturer , the wholesaler, the retailer and the buyer!
To illustrate the point I am making- I also discovered that often times that 100metre rolls of adhesive tape usually only have 93metres or less (BUT NO-ONE EVER UNROLLS A NEW ROLL OF TAPE TO CHECK, I was the first person evidently to do this ) . The same with toilet paper -whoever checks that a new roll of toilet paper is as long as the label says? That a tin of Chicken & vegetable soup really has 20% chicken (by weight), that the label claims? (I checked 4 different brands and not one came anywhere to the claimed meat content)
Often products are imported from other countries which do not have the same regard for standards as we do.
The same goes for drug manufacturing. Fortunately we do have laws in this country to protect us... but how often do we read in the media of URGENT RECALLS of various drugs due to issues in manufacturing... mostly we are not told where they have been made, only what the problem is.
We only see the end product . We do not know how it was made, how much it cost to manufacture, the cost of development, etc... but every one wants to save money, the manufacturer , the wholesaler, the retailer and the buyer!
Dillydally75
24 April 2017
This is the best answer here, yet none comments or upvotes. The truth is often brushed aside as being to much work, or not exciting enough. I challenge those here complaining, to save one tablet from their months supply... keep one of the smaller (KVKt or Activis oxycodone) and one of the larger (Caraco, Epic etc oxycodone tablet)... crush the pill and drop it into a cup of water. You will find that the sedimentation rate and quantity of sediment is VERY different. The active substance (oxycodone in this case water saluable ) will dissolve into the water leaving behind the rest. Just the excess "inert" binders fillers etc is enough to cause a remarkable difference in digestion... and this is before we get to any of the effects OF those substances left in the cup. For instance, a person allergic to silicone will find a major problem with both epic and caraco brand oxy...
even if their allergy is disclosed, this fact will not change the prescribing or be caught by most dotors or pharmacists. Even after discovering the problem, you will still be denied approval or even the prescription . Caraco and epic brand BOTH use silicone dioxide when the others DO NOT... and those are the two most commonly complained about. People need to start checking these things instead of writing them off as flukes, just as you (Bache) says above. You are hurting yourself by letting this go.
etm567
22 Dec 2017
They can have different binders, fillers, colors. I know because I have food allergies. And honestly, if one is pink and another is blue, how can they possibly have precisely the same ingredients? You can be allergic to a binder or filler or to a dye.
Tammytrehan1
19 Nov 2018
There might not be a difference in the active ingredients, but yes there sure is a difference in the inert ingredients or the fillers used, and everyone is different chemically, I was prescribed oxycodone ,over 4 years ago and have been taking it ever since, and always received the same brand qualitest, and they've always worked for my chronic sever pain, about 2 years after being on my medication, I picked my medication and I notice they looked different, but took them anyway, I noticed a big difference I developed a itchy rash, very dry mouth, and headache, I returned to cvs, and discussed it with the pharmacy, and they said i was probably sensitive to the filler, it was the (maldinkront ) not sure of the spelling but they also told me they had several complaints on that brand, and suggested, at next refill , ask the pharmacy first to be sure they have the qualitest brand before I leave the prescription, and to check the medication before I sign to accept them ,because once I accept them they can not be returned
biggyjames64
14 June 2016
I just switched from qualitest to macrinkodt 30 mg oxycodone and they do seem stronger than others I have tried like mylan and qualitest. I have been in pain management for over two years and these seem the best to me. A person does build up a tolerance after a while so switching brands ever so often may help.
taylor123456
20 Nov 2018
Euphoria!!! That is the goal for you? Right
MirandaT
8 June 2016
Hi I've been on oxycodone 10 mill for years and so is my husband. We can both tell a huge difference. The yellow generic ones with 230 and a C on one side I'd far better than any other brand. And they are a generic brand. I think called Alvogen. Does anyone else feel this way? And how can I look up all the ingredients on the the one I like and the ones i dont and compare them just for my knowledge?
SpineAccidentGuy
3 June 2016
Thanks guys. I have the same experience. One generic makes me sick, another one is far weaker. The doctor changed my pain meds - we are taking away the APAP so I will be trying Oxycodone for the first time - and I'm scared about getting a bad brand and having to get through a month or more finding a brand that I can tolerate and will work. Sometimes they are so weak that even doubling the dose - always letting the MD know - doesn't add up to one tablet of the better brand.
Kingbuba
21 April 2016
My Pain Management doctor says the FDA gives them 25% wiggle room. So, depending on the batch, for a 10 mg pill, you could get 7.5-12.5.
I had some Percocet that were terrible. I switched to Oxycodone alone because I figure with fewer ingredients you had a better chance of getting the OxyContin.
When you are in pain, it really matters that it is right!
PaulMartin
24 July 2016
Yep, my pharmacist told me the same thing, and you know it will always be -25% to cut costs. Mallinckrodt is the WORST, do not accept your Rx if this is the brand they give you for Norco 10/325, Watson is the best.
Foxy53
10 Dec 2016
I hate to tell all of you, but your pharmacists have been lying to you. I too, just had my worst experience ever with a generic from Cairico. I called the FDA and was told there is absolutely no deviation or fillers allowed in generics of any kind. Each generic must be tested against the brand name, and they must ne exact. If not, they are not FDA approved. I think Federal law still trumps state laws, or what they would have you believe. The FDA sent me a form to fill out because the number I gave the FDA for the generic oxycodone 30mg from Cairico, is not even registered with the FDA. So if you feel your medication is shorted or it has fillers in it, I urge you to fill out a complaint form with the FDA online, or snail mail. They will send one to you. Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of generic pain medications that are not FDA approved, and they want to know about them.
So if any pharmacist ever tells you there is a certain % of deviation allowed, they are big fat liers and they know it. They are just trying to cover their own buts cause they are buying the cheapest drug out there, and they could care less if it hurts their patients or not. They aren't in the healing business, they are in the money making business. Get schooled, I did.
Ctopher33
12 Aug 2017
No..no... no... no..Never, ever will you get a 10mg that has 12.5mg's. You may get one that has 7.5, but never more. You overdose on something and it's found to have more my than it says or your prescribed, that company is done..Cvs gave my buddy 80mg's of oxycontin back when they were common and he was prescribed 40mg's. He was relatively new to them and though he was just given a different generic, though it occured to em(after he overdosed) there is no generic with oxycontin. Needless to say he's sitting pretty right now on a large settlement from CVS from over 20 years ago .
VimanaPilot
26 July 2018
Well I hate to tell you this, but you're wrong. If there is no difference in the formulation, how do you account for multiple manufacturers of oxycodone all making the same strength, let's say 30 mg. but they're all different size pills? Some are more than twice the size than others. This would blow your statement out of the water right there. They all have different fillers, and differing amounts of fillers, and the amount of the active ingredient is not set in stone and exact, they have a bit of leeway. This is the truth.
charlesvgoff
8 March 2016
It is not in your head! I have been taking oxycodone and oxycontin for more years than I care to admit. There is a difference. There are at least half a dozen manufactures and 4 to 5 different number designations. A333 seems to work the best. There's another one that starts with IP which is pretty good too. They one to stay away from is the one that is about the same length as a Tylenol (the others are shorter). I actually got so tired of it that I had my doctor switch me to the straight oxycodone with no Tylenol in it. Those pills are consistent and I needed a stronger dose anyway and 10mg is the biggest one that includes Tylenol. The 20mg and 30mg pills are straight oxycodone, nothing else.
cane716
15 Nov 2015
Today even my doctors know that due to Obama care that yes,the generic alternatives are different from the brand name medications ,it is definitely not in your head,before you buy a generic equalivant I would advise you to google and find what works best for most people,the fda does not regulate the fillers that are added to the generic equalivant medications,some people are blind to the fact that the pharmaceutical industry is larger than any business,if the government has their way they will import the cheapest drugs from countries like China,India Japan,even though the active ingredient is equal,the fillers are different,why?Because the fillers act differently and are not absorbed properly in most people,they are left to show their own independent studies and report back to the fda,the government can buy boatloads of medication for a far cheaper price than most manfacturers can afford,let's face it,our healthcare system is in big trouble and cuts are being made every day in
order for it to stay afloat,cost are being cut across the board and some people still believe that generates are exactly the same,for those who choose to believe that their is no difference,do some research and if you dig deep enough,you will find it in black and white,there is a difference,and many people are beginning to find out that some of the medication is not working like it did in the past,cost cutting is indeed being applied,and it is making people sick,my advice is to be more proactive and find out what works best for you and definitely go with your instincts,then you don't have to listen to the so-called generic drugs are the same,because that is just not so,Cane0716
VimanaPilot
17 Nov 2015
I'm sorry, but if someone told you, or you came up with the idea yourself, Obamacare has nothing to do with this, it has been going on long before Obamacare became law. I have had the same problem with different effectiveness for years now. It is related to the fillers that different manufacturers use, not the healthcare law. If you notice, brands like Rhodes are a much larger pill, which is obviously due to more fillers, and it has always been this way. If I were you I'd check my sources, doctors have their own agenda so they can't be trusted to tell you the truth all the time.
Backissues
5 Jan 2016
I'm concerned about the effectiveness of validity of some of the generic 10 mg oxycodone hydrocloride purchased from the local big box store. I have been taking these pills for about 15 years but recently accepted a generic supposedly made by Rhodes. I find that these pills are totally ineffective compared to other brands I've had. I recently saw a show on TV called "phake pharma" and and convinced that these last pills may fit into that discription! Does anyone know what a non-generic 10 mg oxycodone hydrocloride looks like and who manufactures them?
daxd
7 June 2016
@backissues - I, too, was given Rhodes (RP15) Oxycodone by WM 2 weeks ago and COMPLETELY ineffective. I take 15mg. I can't even tell I have taken anything. The pill is almost 2x as large as the Actavis green pills and I have been in SEVERE pain that isn't lessened at all after taking. I DO have a CYP2D6 gene defect so I don't metabolize Oxycodone like other people. I basically metabolize almost nothing - but it does take my 8-9 pain down to a 4-5. I wear a patch (25mcg fentanyl) as well which uses the CYP3A4-5 pathway. I am in miserable pain. I also have the MCR1 gene (red head gene and my son is red head) After 12 surgeries with no pain medicine - I am desperate for relief.
I have RSD in my left arm, Parsonage Turner Syndrome on my left (brachial plexus nerves), shattered right foot with screw, endometriosis, stage 4 pitting edema in right leg, breast tumors, cervical stenosis, lumbar stenosis, degenerative disc diseases in cervial and lumbar, spondylosis, bulging discs - I could go on and on. Only thing that works for my migraines is EXCEDRIN and it is a LIFE SAVER. Works EVERY time in +/-30 mins...
I don't know what to do about oxycodone :( Rhodes DOES NOT work. I doubt it has any active ingredient.
I don't know what to do about oxycodone :( Rhodes DOES NOT work. I doubt it has any active ingredient.
ladean63
14 Oct 2016
Wow. I have also been taking oxycodone HCL immediate release for about 15+ years and when I re-filled my prescription this month with a "big box" pharmacy that I go to told me that they were out of the KVK Tech generic 10mg (pink in color) that I normally get that works for me and gave me the much larger white 10mg oxycodone made by Rhodes. I also could barely even tell that I took anything! Now I have to go through a whole month and will probably run out sooner because of having to take them sooner than prescribed due to ineffectiveness. I truly wish i would have checked here and read about Rhodes and the fact that they were so much different. I suffer from chronic back pain due to degenerative disc and joint disease as well as spinal stenosis. I wish I didn't have to take these pain medications at all but if I didn't; I would have no quality of life and I'm too young to be cooped up having to stay home because I can barely walk.
Plus, I also wanted to add that some doctors and pharmacies are really starting to judge people that have to take pain medication looking at them like they are "drug seekers". All because of others that do not need the medication and abuse them making those that do need them suffer. I truly hope that this stigma goes away but I have a feeling that it's just the beginning with the way the government (DEA) has to get involved with everything. Thanks! Best regards to all that suffer with chronic pain.
jmj70jmj
11 Oct 2018
sounds right to me. I was employed by the government once and I understand exactly what you are saying. Thanks for your comment.
blackgurl1992
9 Oct 2015
I have the same response to taking the oxycodone with the letter M*s 30 milligrams does not work for me I asked my doctor what is the difference in the lettering cuz the A*s work better for me and the k9*s work better for me. I wonder do they put different medicines in at different manufacturer if anybody knows the answer please let me know cause i have to go look for what works for me every month when it time for my refil.
princessash819
10 Oct 2015
I agree.. The k9's worked well for me, better than anything else. The As, I didn't like at first but they're okay... There is also a new brand, A51, they r VERY good... Don't like the Ms at all.
cronicpain216
31 Dec 2014
There is definitely a difference. All controlled substances have a number and letter or just numbers on it. Go to the area in drugs. com and type in the identifying number and or letters and it will tell you the ingredients. Way different and some don't have the ingredient of the ones that help
BSP
13 Dec 2014
While the amount of active ingredient is standardized across all generic formulations of any particular drug, due to variable excipients and formulation between different generic products, it is likely that different generic formulations will exhibit differences in drug bioavailability (which is ultimately a function of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination)- which will be influenced by the composition of the formulation.
capnemo
2 July 2016
All on board read bps's comments if you have the intellect he explains it very fairly there are many contributing factors to the availability of the ingredients in any pill but we should demand as people more standardized results in prescription medicine effectivness.
Related topics
oxycodone, chronic pain, generic, prescription
Further information
- Oxycodone uses and safety info
- Oxycodone prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Oxycodone (detailed)
Similar questions
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.