Acetaminophen / hydrocodone and Itching: What Users Say

• Scr...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 4, 2020

For Back Pain "Due to a severe back injury I've been on Norco for years. Long ago, my pharmacies carried Qualitest and Watson (dark yellow) brand. Worked great! Over the years, however, now they only carry Mallinckrodt brand. This stuff is hit or miss. I've also noticed that the Mallinckrodt brand is not only hit or miss, but I've developed an allergic reaction to the brand. Sometimes it causes itching and scratching, sometimes severe respiratory problems, or it doesn't work at all. My doctor says that I'm not the only one with this problem. Interesting. Has anyone else had these problems, or is it just me?"

• Scr...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 4, 2020

For Back Pain "Due to a severe back injury I've been on Norco for years. Long ago, my pharmacies carried Qualitest and Watson (dark yellow) brand. Worked great! Over the years, however, now they only carry Mallinckrodt brand. This stuff is hit or miss. I've also noticed that the Mallinckrodt brand is not only hit or miss, but I've developed an allergic reaction to the brand. Sometimes it causes itching and scratching, sometimes severe respiratory problems, or it doesn't work at all. My doctor says that I'm not the only one with this problem. Interesting. Has anyone else had these problems, or is it just me?"

• Joh...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 26, 2020

Acetaminophen / hydrocodone for Back Pain "I screwed up my back pretty bad in 1993. The older I get, the worse the pain gets. Surgery is not an option. Used to get Watson and Qualitest brand acetaminophen/hydrocodone for the pain. It worked great. Then the pharmacies switched to Mallinckrodt. It either didn't work, made me itch, or gave me severe breathing problems depending on the lot number. My doctor switched me to Percocet. It didn't work at all! Then I checked the manufacturer, Mallinckrodt. If you can find a pharmacy that doesn't use Mallinckrodt, run, do not walk, to that pharmacy. I've had it with Mallinckrodt."

• Rea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 13, 2021

Acetaminophen / hydrocodone for Pain "With brand Norco or Watson Hydrocodone at one a day, I experienced occasional itchy nose, occasional mild nausea, occasional constipation. Now at six Mallinckrodt brand Hydrocodone, I have no side effects. Along with minimal pain relief. Billions of dollars are being spent on these inferior drugs. People's money, insurance companies, taxpayers' money in the trash, and people suffering! What a joke the FDA is. Time for a federal lawsuit against the FDA and Mallinckrodt, as well as anyone else who stood by while this is going on. This is not the solution to a few bad apples that misuse/abuse their medication. There are many more people who have been using it responsibly, and it's not hard to distinguish the addicts from the people who want to be able to live their lives without agony and depression from constant pain. It may be sad when abusers overdose, but it's worse when honest, deserving patients give up due to no pain relief."

• Bra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 5, 2015

Acetaminophen / hydrocodone for Back Pain "I take hydrocodone 10mg/325mg of acetaminophen. I have bulging discs in my lower back on my spine and they hit certain nerves. I have had a great experience with this medicine. I don't have any side effects except for some itching. It allows me to function and continue to work a fast-paced job where I'm on my feet. You just have to be careful to not take more than prescribed because most people don't realize how addicting it can be. Read the papers that you get from the pharmacy and ask questions. If used correctly, this drug is very beneficial."

• Buc...
• June 7, 2020

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have all the problems that everyone has with pain meds. I feel the pain. I’ve been taking acetaminophen/hydrocodone 10/325 for years and switch between brands, etc. But definitely the power in them has dropped. I’m taking M367 and it gives me more of an itch than the relief. I need my pain meds to work, I pay big bucks for my Blue Cross Blue Shield for meds and I argue with my pharmacist about this, but it goes nowhere. I talk for all patients, like I heard they are all worried about overdose, addiction, and such."

• Rin...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 28, 2019

For Back Pain "I have severe back issues, DDD (Degenerative Disc Disease), arthritis, and was in a car accident. I have taken Norco, 10/325 with Watson on it, for over 10 years. I took 2 a day and was great, I could work all day, sleep great, I was able to be very productive in my life and career. This brand is horrible, does not touch the pain, makes me itch, nauseated, and bloated. I'm less functional and really irritated. I have pain the majority of every day. Here where I live, almost everywhere has this brand. I wish they had the Activist white Watson. I found an old one and 'WOW,' I could function, and that proved it is in fact the other brand is like a placebo... I'd like to report this, I will research how."

• Man...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 10, 2023

For Pain "I've been in pain management since 2012 and was Rx'd hydrocodone/APAP 5-325. The Watson brand worked great. Fast forward to 2022, and the pharmacy switched to Mallinckrodt. It didn't control my pain and made me very nauseous, which I hadn't experienced before, and it also made me itchy. I had to take Benadryl before taking it to control the nausea and itching. I hadn't made the connection to how I was reacting to it until last Friday when my pharmacy switched to a different manufacturer, Lupin. I took my pill before bed and noticed that it looked different. I forgot to take Benadryl beforehand, so I thought I was in for a rough night. Lo and behold, no nausea and no itching! Wondering if Mallinckrodt puts extra things in theirs that shouldn't be. Either that or it's possibly the bitartrate, which I don't think Lupin uses in theirs. After seeing the reviews here, I now know I'm NOT crazy and it's not all in my head! Lupin: 10 stars. Mallinckrodt: 0 (sad trombone)."

• Che...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 16, 2019

For Pain "Have been taking hydrocodone for 15 years, 5 per day, for atypical migraines. For the past year at least, have been getting Mallinckrodt brand from Rite Aid, with some relief. This month, Rite Aid switched suppliers to the Camber brand. Camber acetaminophen with hydrocodone provides substantially less relief and also gives an itching side effect. I have some allergies, which care providers don't believe until they see it - nylon sutures turn the location bright red and swollen, for example. I am suspicious of the fillers and other content."

• Ree...
• March 15, 2016

Acetaminophen / hydrocodone for Pain "I had surgery to repair a torn labrum in my left hip, as well as severe damage to my cartilage. It was an incredibly painful surgery and was prescribed the 10/325 hydrocodone (Norco) for my pain. One tablet every 4-6 hours the first 2 weeks post-op helped incredibly with the pain. I was given another prescription for the same thing for my PT (lasting 4-6 months post-op). I no longer took them regularly, only before/after PT, which could be incredibly painful. 1-2 tablets did the job, providing incredible relief from pretty severe pain. The only negative side effect I experienced was itching, particularly when I would take 2 tablets (20 mg). However, 2 tablets provided wonderful pain relief and also relaxed me mentally. Thumbs up."

• Red...
• February 15, 2019

For Back Pain "I have been on hydrocodone 10/325 two to four times a day for 10 years. Three lumbar and two cervical neck surgeries four recently. Yet still more issues could it fix. I have never abused my pain medication. Never paid attention to the supplier. Dr. told me big problem in U.S. This month, CVS gave me Lupin Pharmaceuticals, an Indian-based company. I have been itching like crazy, but worse, these pain meds don't work. I just took myself off the fentanyl patch, but I can't handle this. Call Dr. today to figure out what to do. I am 63, totally disabled. This medication is a tier 3, expensive on Medicare Complete. TIP: I called Aetna, went through the pre-certification department, and qualified to reduce to tier one, which is now a $0 co-pay, along with another medication. Thank you, Aetna, for being honest and helpful since I have a lot of meds to buy. Is anyone experiencing the same thing with this brand of pain meds? Only been around since 2017."

• Chr...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 1, 2019

Acetaminophen / hydrocodone for Back Pain "I have had fibromyalgia and RA, as well as depression, anxiety, low vitamin D levels, migraines, and chronic fatigue syndrome. My doctor asked if I wanted 10/325 Norco or 5 mg Percocet. The Norco worked better and was less sedating and itchy. I know from the dentist I need 10-20 mg Percocet. Norco keeps me awake, functioning (out of bed, I’m disabled), but lets me get up and move around, also less addictive. I also take Cymbalta, Topamax, Xanax, Lunesta, Adderall, Norco, Soma, etc."

• Ree...
• January 19, 2020

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "To all of you that are having bad experiences with Tris Pharma hydrocodone with acetaminophen, I suggest letting the pharmacy know. I suggest complaining to your pharmacist's corporate office. I suggest calling the FDA and filing a complaint, other than just posting here, because if not enough people see anything, nothing will be done. I have rheumatoid arthritis, mostly in my hands but in all of my joints, and have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning. I also have degenerative disc disorder in my lower back. Walgreens pharmacy has Tris, and they will not order another brand per my doctor’s electronic prescription. I was told, “What we have on our shelf is what you get.” The Tris brand of hydrocodone with acetaminophen makes me very itchy, it either makes me really tired or very hyper, and it does nothing to relieve my pain. Two hours later, I will be asking myself if I even took a pain med."

• bur...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 8, 2024

Acetaminophen / hydrocodone for Pain "I have been prescribed Norco for kidney infections, painful UTIs, and kidney stones. Norco works well. Side effects include itching, some constipation, and drowsiness. Benefits include managing pain to a tolerable level. I know when my stones were passing and during my infections that this medication was a godsend."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 7, 2013

Acetaminophen / hydrocodone for Pain "In my experience, this medication is pretty good, but the only problem I have is it makes me itch. My pharmacist says it's not an allergy because I don't have a rash. I have found, if I take it soon enough after pain starts, it does pretty good at controlling it."

• Ann...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 16, 2016

Acetaminophen / hydrocodone for Back Pain "That stuff made me so sick I wanted to die. It was like a terminal case of the flu. And OxyContin made me itch so bad I scratched with a hairbrush. Guess I wouldn't be a very good addict. I have a magnetic belt I ordered from a catalog, and it helps more than medication - perhaps it's the magnets, but I suspect it's more a case of giving me more back support. Prescribed back braces were too big and heavy to wear, so they're out. I think every person who ever suffered from real back pain would be overwhelmed with joy if there was just a magic wand that would take the pain away permanently."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 6, 2012

Acetaminophen / hydrocodone for Pain "The medicine did exactly what it was supposed to do-erased my pain when I had a wisdom tooth extraction. There were side effects, but they were minimal. The medicine made me itchy, somewhat numb, and a little bit sleepy, but it was nothing that could not be dealt with easily."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 26, 2021

Acetaminophen / hydrocodone for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have gout in my right foot, both legs and feet are swollen. My back has a damaged disc, one is pressing on my nerve. It comes around the right side to the front down to my groin-very painful. I can't even walk, feel like someone kicked me there. Then it goes down my leg to my big toe. My neck has four discs that keep me from turning my head, it causes migraines that make my eyes tear up. I was in an accident that damaged my neck and back-hit by a truck from behind, and it traumatized my neck and back. My hands have degenerative disease. The Norco 10/325 brand name works very well. It didn't make me feel like I was high or dizzy, it didn't hurt my stomach. I have colitis, it goes right to the pain and I walk better, use my hands, and think on my own. The generic brand made me itch and break out in hives and sent me to the hospital for shortness of breath. I went to pain management and had epidural injections, didn't help."

• Lan...
• November 28, 2020

Acetaminophen / hydrocodone for Pain "This combination of 300 mg acetaminophen and 10 mg hydrocodone works best to suppress pain from kidney stones while interfering the least with sleeping. Other Vicodin combinations have odd side effects like itching and “sleep skimming” (no deep sleep). This pain reliever works best for me. Always needs to be taken before the pain level becomes too high!"

• Anonymous
• July 21, 2010

Acetaminophen / hydrocodone for Pain "I'm taking Lortab for the pain from getting my wisdom teeth out. I'm really lucky that I had them because when the anesthesia wore off, the pain was unbearable. Since then, I've taken one pill or maybe one and a half if the first one didn't help after an hour or so. That only has happened a couple of times though, and mostly at night. The side effects I got are (listed from most present to rare): loopiness (like I'm slightly drunk almost), extreme mood swings (I've cried multiple times over nothing), itching (mostly on my face, not too much), constipation (only slightly though), and nausea (only the very first time I took them, and with two pills). Overall, worth it. Takes care of the pain."

• TnM...
• December 18, 2009

Acetaminophen / hydrocodone for Pain "I have been given this medication 4 times this year. The first time was in March for a pulled tooth. The second was after my gallbladder surgery, the third was after a hernia, and this time was for some more dental work. For years, both codeine and hydrocodone gave me horrible side effects and reactions. But I think I've built up some tolerance to medicines over the years. I have to take Phenergan with it and half a Benadryl. It makes me semi-nauseated and itchy. It mellows me out and helps oh so much with pain. I have been given various strengths and even liquid form. Works great!"

• sup...
• February 12, 2010

Acetaminophen / hydrocodone for Pain "I had a lumbar fusion and discectomy, and the neurosurgeon discharged me from the hospital with Norco 10/325. That was not a good post-op medicine. I went to my PCP, and he prescribed OxyContin 40 mg 3x a day, and that didn't help. It made me itch all of the time. Finally, he started me on Vicodin HP 10/660 4x a day, and it has helped TREMENDOUSLY! Two thumbs up!"

• roo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 3, 2012

For Pain "I have two fractured vertebrae from a car wreck. At first, my Dr. prescribed me Percocet 5/325, it worked, but for me, the side effects (nausea, itching, and sleeplessness) were awful. He then switched me to Lortab 7.5/500, and wow! Not only is the pain-killing effectiveness just as strong (if not stronger) than the Percocet, but I have experienced NOT ONE negative side effect."

• jgl...
• July 2, 2010

Acetaminophen / hydrocodone for Pain "I have had numerous teeth pulled recently, getting ready for dentures, and first, I was prescribed Demerol, which made me feel ill, and personally, I still felt pain. Then it was Percocet, which worked great for pain but made me itch. Finally, Vicodin 5 mg, which I had to take 1 and a half to knock out all the pain. My dentist tried Vicoprofen 7.5, which worked absolutely perfectly but was a bit expensive compared to regular Vicodin. Well, he prescribed Vicodin 7.5/500, and 1 tablet works wonders. I was told that I could take 2 at a time if needed, but so far, 1 seems to work for about 5 hours. I was told that I could build up a quick tolerance to the drug, so I take 800 mg ibuprofen unless I really need the Vicodin."

• roo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 2, 2012

For Back Pain "I fractured two vertebrae in a car accident last month. At first, I was prescribed Percocet 5/325, but for me, the side effects (nausea, itching, sleeplessness) were not worth it. So my Dr. switched me to Vicodin 7.5/500, and wow! There were no negative side effects, and the pain relief was good."