Is percocet stronger then the generic form oxycodone?

[puzzledbythisstuff]

I have been taking generic oxycodone although I was prescribed percocet because I do not want to pay 30 bucks instead of the 10 buck co-pay. I am finding that they are not working as well as when I had the actual percocet. Is there a reason for this? By the way, I am new to this forum but I have been reading it for awhile (lurking) but this is my first post.

[Ghilly]

Different manufacturers might use different inert ingredients in their  pills, so while the active ingredient might be the same (oxycodone), the binders might be different and it's possible that you might feel differently when taking one as opposed to another.  In the generic oxycodone you're taking, is it pure oxycodone?  Or is there APAP in it (tylenol)?  If it's just pure oxycodone, then chances are it's not you, the brand name percocet MIGHT make you feel better than the pure oxycodone, because, as my doctor explained it to me, the APAP acts as a catalyst and it can boost the efficacy of the oxycodone by almost 50% in some cases.  In other words, if you take one percocet (with the tylenol built in) you might need one and a half or even two of the pills without the tylenol in them to get the same result with regard to pain control.  The pure oxycodone is a lot safer for your liver than the percocet, but if you want to boost the efficacy of your pills, you can take a tylenol or an advil with them from time to time if you're hurting more that day.

Ghilly

[fancynancy503]

I also am finding a huge difference and so is my husband  We both suffer with pain ...  (guessing reasons don't matter?)  and we were recently changed from :

Ratio-Oxycocet --Oxycodone HCL/ACET A5/325--WHT/RND/TEC {1}    

TO THIS:  

Sandoz-Oxycodone Acetami 5/325mg--
Oxycodone HCL/Aceta5/325
Wht-Off/Rnd/325

We didnt realize the pills had changed but wondered why they are not working!!  Something is different....  So we looked at our pills closer to find they are not the same....  Can someone tell me why they are not working the same? I would rather go back to my Doctor with some kind of knowledge as is getting so hard to get appointments   ...We are not rich people but would rather pay more rather than suffer...Seems to come down to quality of life.   HELP???

[fancynancy503]

Although I havn't received help on my question from this forum  I have what might be the answer!!!     Called the Drug Store/Pharmacy and found out there have been many complaints about this change in prescription....  It was actually given out....apparently.... because they ran out of the other......  Why didn't they tell us they didn't have the same pill and give us the choice of perhaps another Pharmacy might have it??  Why didn't they check themselves for the proper prescription?   I have many questions now and from now on will ask for NO Generic Brands even though it may cost more    ...Why take a med and put it into your body if it dosn't help...?   I won't!!!  A wee bit peeved off here in Canada Ontario and will be following up on this issue!!  
Here was my question----
Hi there ...  Not sure if this will work as am not sure I am a member but will join after posting.
I also am finding a huge difference and so is my husband  We both suffer with pain ...  (guessing reasons don't matter?)  and we were recently changed from :
Ratio-Oxycocet --Oxycodone HCL/ACET A5/325--WHT/RND/TEC {1}
TO THIS:
Sandoz-Oxycodone Acetami 5/325mg--
Oxycodone HCL/Aceta5/325
Wht-Off/Rnd/325
We didnt realize the pills had changed but wondered why they are not working!!  Something is different....  So we looked at our pills closer to find they are not the same....  Can someone tell me why they are not working the same? I would rather go back to my Doctor with some kind of knowledge as is getting so hard to get appointments   ...We are not rich people but would rather pay more rather than suffer...Seems to come down to quality of life.   HELP???

[fancynancy503]

Seems to me if your not rich with extra money....suffer it out with the generic ....I won't go down without a fight!!  

[Seashellz40]

Het t1Arnold I also believe in this .as for many drugs it is like this wit my canal YELLOW&free bars are weaker say 70 % apossed to the white generice which is 80 or more this was told to me by the DR I see and the pharmacist.no one is sure. Why .I could tell by the amount of relief I get.so it has to be  on the web some where(Google it simply ask the question you want with Google and it should bring up many sites with different answers I am positive one of them will give you the proper that you are looking for. I just simply trust my doctor and my pharmacist. And I trust my body some of them give better relief than others. When I inquired about this this is when I was explained that some generic pills have 70% some have 80% some have 90% this is why it did not give me the same relief as other ones . As I am talking about the yellow and green ones, colored ones where we can feel it I felt like I needed to take my medicine the next dose faster. I trust my doctor and my pharmacist and I trust my body yeah all the colored ones wear off faster the white ones there are several different brands they R all Generic with the same ingredients  just different amounts  percentages  some last longer . I feel like I need to take them less often but as for pharmacies they buy whatever is the cheapest and if you think about it if there R 70% of a drug and one pill and 80% in and another pill of course the colored ones are going to be cheaper because there is less of the actual medicine in the colored pill not necessarily although by color but in my case is an ex yes that's how it was explained to me the colored ones have a lower percentage
. One time I got round ones god knows what was in them because I feel like I was taking it muscle relaxer. This ones were awful that was the worst month of my life for anxiety did absolutely nothing I do not recommend anyone ever getting around Xanax there are the worst ever good afternoon I'm here to have me look it up the answers out there I mean Google has answers everything try Bing there a good search engine. Either way try it for yourself. One month to get the one that you think is helping you better the next time to try the other one see if you see a difference in the medication and different kinds different brands I actually tried one time the real Xanax and I thought that they were awful and I had the name imprinted on it and I would have much rather had the Generic so maybe it's all just about how every drug affects everyone differently cuz I thought that they would be you know better than any generic ones I would ever take but I actually would have preferred one of them colored ones over the role actual xanax. But everyone has their own opinion but again as t1Arnold I absolutely agree with you there are different amounts percentages of the medicine in different pills. I mean from the pharmacist to the doctor they learn that stuff in school they have access to look it up that we do not.  why would they lie to us they have nothing to gain their paycheck is still the same at the end of the week. why don't you try asking your doctor or your pharmacist . I forget hey your answer in this for before the person that doesn't understand or believe that there's different dosages and percentages of Medicine try asking your doctor or your pharmacist. They have no reason to lie to you. I have always wondered why this was so and I want to read up on it so I might check that website out Arnold thanks for posting it. I absolutely think it's unfair all drugs with the same name should have the same percentage of medicine in them especially the one that is the most active.

[Tuckamore]

It's a scientific fact not all of us metabolize drugs in the same manner. For example, some ppl metabolize hydrocodone better than they do oxycodone and vise versa. I assume that's also true when it comes to the substances used by different manufacturers to make the "same" drug.

It's the reason that one hypertensive agent (B/P medication) is effective for one person and not another. We are individuals.

The key is finding what is most effective for you - rather it's opiates or hypertensive agents.

Today some PMPs are doing DNA swab testing to determine what opiates your system best metabolizes. It's all in our genes? Probably!

~Tuck

[generalsfans]

ive been on percocet for 10ys from 5 open heart surgeries is brand name better than generic

[ChristNonsense]

No, sorry, when it comes to medicine and my health, I (personally) am only going to read something more official than something written by a "summer intern."

Not that there is anything wrong with that company, or even anything wrong with being a "summer intern" (heck, he may be an absolute genius and everything he says is 100% correct -- and, further, he's definitely a lot smarter than me working for a big fancy company and stuff), but for me, I need a little more to go on.

Correct me if I'm wrong, isn't it a "proper" thing to do when posting a webpage like that, to footnote it? Citations? References? Even Wikipedia has footnotes.

Anyway, I hope nobody reading my post here misconstrues that I am saying what they say is NOT true; rather, I'm just saying that I need more to go on.

Regarding your brand name Percocet, it's way, way against the forum rules for me to actually say what I'm thinking.

And, frankly, I don't want to be banned again :-)

So, good day to you!

[ron433]

http://www.consumer-health.com/services/5CommonQuestionsAboutGenericDrugs.php.
It depends on the lab where the pills where made. I had 10/325 oxy that did nothing  but give me a headache.  I told my Dr and he gave me a script for name brand percocet.  What a huge difference. I just had to call my CVS  and tell them that I would have a new script and they would order them in. No pharmacy  seems to carry name brand anymore.  But all generic  drugs are not created equal.  And that's a fact !!!

[ChristNonsense]

T1Arnold, would you please provide a direct link to [any] official web site (not just some quote from an Internet Stranger in a drug forum somewhere) that specifically says, "80%" ?

I sure would appreciate it... as I am *completely* fed-up with people perpetuating this *ridiculous* old-wives'-tale.

[t1arnold]

Actually, according to the FDA laws the generic brand of any name brand medication has some leniency. The generic, by law has to be at least 80% as strong as the name brand. For example, if you are prescribed 100mg of a medication, it may be as low as 80mg. How this is legal I have no idea but I had to do some fairly extensive research (about 6 months worth of time with lawyers) due to having an issue with my insurance company. It's a long story that I won't bore you with. Anyway, it's rediculous. Would it be legal to pay for ten gallons of gasoline and only get eight gallons in your tank? It's mind boggling. However, it's true.

[NatashaDolby]

It depends on why you are taking the medication to. I have degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis, spondylolisthesis, scoliosis, hip bersitis, and shoulder instability. I have been on the medication for 2 years. The last dr kept upping my dose. I was on 30mg of vicodine before they switched me to morphine 60mg twice a day on top of oxycodone pure 10mg 4 times a day. Upping the dose is HORRIBLE! I became so addicted to the morphine and told the dr, for this reason I wanted to get off it. She dropped me as a patient for becoming dependent on the medication. Yes its legal. while on the morphine for a year I lost half my hair and 100 pounds because I was constantly sick. I had a VERY low sensitivity to pain. I have been off the morphine for 5 weeks and the pain is not nearly as bad. if you up the dose on the meds you become much more sensitive to all pain. When I started seeing the new pain management doctor I told him straight up "I have been on this medication for 2 years and I need more. I am not addicted to the oxycodone, I don't even get the high off them any more, and haven't for 18 months. Can you please give me the 10mg every 4 hours for pain" He understood my situation as I am only 24 and have medical conditions that are rarely seen in anyone under 60. I told him I hated the medication and wanted to get off it but everytime I try I have too much pain and have to take another pill. He told me he would help. He cut the ammount per day from 6-3 max a day! I am not going to lie, it has been very hard to stick to the 3 a day, but after 2 weeks it became much better. I still have severe pain in between doses, but I found if I take the 3 every 5 hours and use the  tranquilizers to make me sleep through the night pain its much easier to stay to 3 a day. Long term use of pain meds is aweful. My advice is try to stay on the dose your at for as long as you possibly can. once you start upping the dose you get the euphoria effect and want to keep upping the dose when you no longer get it. look for the 1st step in addiction. 1. Anticipation. You find yourself counting down the hours till you can take your next dose. You think about the meds more then just when your in pain and may even take it when you aren't in pain. For me that started when they upp'd me from 5 mg to 10. I kept taking more and more trying to get that euphoria effect (the feel good effect) and couldn't. my mind became to tolerant. I found myself asking for early refills and higher doses. I am soooo glad I got off the morphine. I went through 30 days of hell (keep in mind the doctors wouldn't even take me off it because they knew how bad the withdraws would be.) I stopped cold turkey and those 30 day were torture. I found myself constantly thinking of suicide because not only was i in severe pain but I was going through withdraws. My pain dr was impressed I was able to get off them at all. Im surprised I didn't overdose. The brain builds up a tolerance to the meds faster then anything else. so you take more and more to get the same pain relief. the meds work by traveling to the brain and closing the pain receptors, prolonged use makes the brain create more pain receptors because they know there is something wrong they can't feel pain signals any more (this happens after 8-12 weeks on the meds) you have to keep taking more and more to close those new receptors. this process continues the longer your on it. when you come off them even if you are weened off them pain that was once a 2 or 3 on the pain scale is now a 10. Also I had to have my husband take my pills to make sure I am only taking the recommended dose. I no longer take the meds to get high. I ONLY take it for pain now, but I have been on them so long My memory is crap so I take a pill. 10-20 mins later I'm still in pain and can't remember if I've taken the meds. If I don't get ahead of the pain the next few doses doesn't work so I take one to be safe. That is my I'm giving them to my husband to dispense to me. please be careful with these meds. last year over 7000 people died taking the meds as prescribed. when you up the dose your brain builds tolerence but your lungs don't so even taking them as prescribed may be too much for the lungs. If you don't already know when you overdose the 1st thing the meds do is attack your lungs so you just stop breathing. I wish you the best of luck and hope you will one day be free of the meds.

[hkj324]

I was told that same load of crap by a Walmart PhD...that the FDA allowed a variance of 10% up or down of the quality of generics to BRAND meds. We don't just make this up...someone, who thinks they know a lot, usually tells us this.

[philnoir]

Where in the world did you hear that a generic can be "30 percent over or 30 percent under where a brand name has to be with in 10 percent over or under?"

Medications in the US are regulated by the FDA. Any generic approved for use must be bioequivalent to the name brand medication.

See this link for more information:
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/EmergencyPreparedness/BioterrorismandDrugPreparedness/ucm134444.htm

[Chuckdobie]

Sorry e712

[Chuckdobie]

I was Givin 10 325 of tthe ip204 of oxy them my pharmacy got endocet that has e713 on one side and 10/325 om the other let me tell you they work a lot better so I call pharmacy and tell them to order them for me it is made by endo pharmaceutical just like percocet each ccontains 9mg of oxy were a generic can be aloud to either be 30 percent over or 30 percent under where a brand name has to be with in 10 percent over or under but figure it out how do the generic s make there money there 30 percent under so your 10 mg pill is most likely on 7 mg endocet is considered a name Brand but u pay for it as a generic my doctor told me this. So request for endocets

[Shecat2000]

And how did that work out? i was recently given a dif brand than my regular tec.these ones say Apo one one side and 5/325 on the other. and i feel like i have taken a sugar pill.

[IzzyBnMe]

Unless you take oxyneo there is no 'pure' oxycodone.  I am trying the percocet vs oxycet because I am convinced that the generic are lower quality and you need more for less effect.

I will let you know after I test these 50 percocet (usually takes 15 days on generic.)

[puzzledbythisstuff]

Thanks so much for answering me. I am taking the oxycodone apap (with the tylenol) and have been for several years. I know that the tylenol is not good for the liver but I take the 325's and as such I am way under the 4000 per day that is the cut off (according to my PM doc) I have had no ill effects on my liver as I am screened for this. I rarely drink alcohol as I understand this makes it much worse. I was wondering how people felt and if they find the generic to not be as effective. I think I just need a higher dose at this point as I have been on the same dosage for a long time and I have built up a tolerance. I would rather not take more so I thought if I switched and paid the xtra money for the brand name it may work better. I might try it and see.

[Holliee]

real stuff is always better my brother is on xannax and he use to get generic and one day he got real ones and they worked 10x better he went and had them tested and real one had better quality and more amount

[puzzledbythisstuff]

Thank you for answering me. I feel like the oxycodone is not working as well as it used to but that is likely due to me being on it for a while. I have been on the same dose for about two years and I am afraid to ask my PM doctor to up my dose as I don;t want him to think that I am using drug seeking behavior. I have heard horror stories about doctors dropping patients due to this.

[Mollyrae]

Hi:

Glad you could join us. In my opinion, there is no difference at all. Although others might tell you differently, I feel that they are the same. Continue to save your money and go with the cheaper form of the drug.

Please take care.
Mollyrae