Vicodin vs. Norco vs. Hydrocodone 10/325?
Do you think there is a difference between these medications? What is the most effective in 10/325 dose? Watson vs. Kirby vs. M'ckrodt? Are generics really the same?
Actually, there are 3 types of Vicodin.
Vicodin, Vicodin ES, and Vicodin HP.
Vicodin is 5/500 = 5mg of Hydrocodone bitartrate and 500mg of Acetaminophen (Tylenol).
Vicodin ES is 7.5/750 = 7.5mg of Hydrocodone bitartrate and 750mg of Acetaminophen (Tylenol).
Vicodin HP is 10/660 = 10mg of Hydrocodone bitartrate and 660mg of Acetaminophen (Tylenol).
As far as generics being the same as brand named equivalents, chemically, they must be identical (Except for the fillers and non-active ingredients). However, there are quite a few people who stand by the Watson brand generics claiming that they are more potent and actually work better than the brand name and generic versions. So to each there own, I guess you would have to try one (Or many) and see what works best for you.
I have chronic pain due to 2 failed back surgeries. I'm trying a series of SI joint injections. What is the difference between Norco (generic) and Vicodine (genertic). In otherwords, which offers the most pain relief. I tried Oxydone and that didn't help my pain, just made me sleep (along with taking Cymbalta, which I also had to stop using).
Any suggestions?
Ahh, this topic again. Norco, I think, has less acetaminophen. I take the Norco 10/325. I have seen Lortab 10/500, and Lorcet 10/650. I think this has been answered/debated quite a few times actually. The difference is in the apap. Vicodin ES, and Lortab have more apap than Norco. Norco, Lortab, Vicodin all have hydrocodone. Oxycodone, as I'm sure you already know, is a completely different medicine. Also, Cymbalta is an anti-depressant that can be used off label for certain types of pain. BTW, did your injections help at all? I have had quite a few in the Lumbar and Sac joints, Facet Injections, and a nerve block. The nerve block provided relief for a short period of time, 3-4 weeks. It didn't make it go away, but it did lessen the pain. With pain meds, the pain is around a 2-3, without around a 5-6, based on my pain clinic's scale. The injections helped to keep it around a 4-5 without pain meds, and a 1-2 with. Just an opinion, love it when an old post blows in from the past.
gtrplayer
To add to that,
Norco comes with Acetaminophen 325mg but available in varying amounts of Hydrocodone, 5mg, 7.5mg, and 10mg.
A true Vicodin is only available in one strength Hydrocodone 5mg Acetaminophen 500mg.
What about the Vicodin with Oxycontin in it? haha, J/K.
gtrplayer
there is vicodin and vicodin es vicodine is 5 mg and vicodin es is 7.5 mg/ 750 apap I also think there is a vicodine hp which is 10mg not too sure on that on though!!!!!
vicodin hp is hydrocodone/apap; 10/660 respectively. no vicodine though. I guess I should have explained that. I was being facetious when I said Vicodin with Oxycontin in it. There was a group of posts that contained misleading information to that affect.
gtrplayer
Hydrocodone = hydrocodone. Chemistry is very precise...you can't really vary the chemical itself, you can just increase its quantity. The difference with norcos is...there is a higher ratio of hydrocodone to acetaminophen. Norcos have 10 mg of hydrocodone and 325 mg of APAP per pill. The standard blue Lortab 10's have 650mg of acetaminophen. You don't want acetaminophen, apap, or any of that. Trust me, that's not what makes a Vicodin pill.
Norcos are the purest "official" way to take Vicodin. Vicodin was invented to be prescribed to effectively relieve pain without as much risk of addiction and potential for abuse. There is no hydrocodone pill made without some kind of APAP in it. And 15 mg is the maximum allowed by federal law in one pill. Some places apparently sell a 15 mg hydrocodone/80 mg acetaminophen pill..I would be nervous to order that. I personally have never seen a 15mg hydrocone pill with my own eyes. Still, there is no pure hydrocodone pill.
Again, Norcos are the purest way to get hydrocodone from our primary pharmaceutical companies. You can take higher doses, or any dose for that matter, without having to worry about your liver. You don't want to take more than 2000 mg of acetaminophen at once...and still you don't want to take a lot of acetaminophen. That's why the APAP is in there...to prevent pill abuse. If you like your liver, and you also take hydrocodone, you'll want to be prescribed Norcos.
(edited by TeamPharmer)
wrong, wrong, wrong,
first off, there are hydrocodone formulations made w/out apap, if you need proof i will be glad to show you.
secondly "Norcos are the purest "official" way to take Vicodin".. just the wrong terminology.... norcos are one of the lower mass produced hydrocodonecombos, however, there are lower apap mg amounts mass produced. once again, if you need proof i will be happy to show you.
thirdly "Norcos have 10 mg of hydrocodone and 325 mg of APAP per pill", partially true... they can also have 5/325mg and 7.5/325mg and still be norcos as well.
not to be rude but please be careful not to give out misinformation.
there is nothing wrong w/ not knowing something however, there is something wrong w/ not knowing and saying that you do. this type of misinformation only brings down the credibility and integrity that this site strives to maintain.
all thoughts and opinions expressed are those of my own and should not be mistaken for medical advice. i am not a doctor nor a pharmacist. all medical questions should be answered by a licensed pharmacist, doctor, or primary care manager.
Active forum topics
- Problems!
- Seriously, how long does it have to go on?
- My username was appearing twice and was showing when I was NOT logged on. Should I cancel my account?
- recently switched from Opana to Methadone; advice?
- Advice on med dosages
- Question about new tamper-resistant Oxycontin.
- round, brick colored, with imprint I-2
Navigation
Poll
Latest image
Generics are supposed to be bioequivalent to the referenced (brand name) drugs.
This means the generic has to have the same active ingredients and work with the same speed of action. Binders and fillers can be different.
But I did read where the FDA permits a 20% variance in either direction (rather obscure reference but I have the link saved at work and can post it tomorrow).
Vicodin is Vicodin - 5 mg hydrocodone and 500 mg acetaminophen. So we can omit that one from the discussion since it isn't 10/325.
M 367 (Mallinckrodt), Watson 853, Kirby XX (doesn't exist as far as I know) and Norco 539 (brand name made by Watson) should be equivalent.