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Have you suffered a heart complication after taking Darvon®? We may be able to help you recover financial compensation. Contact our Darvon® lawyers today.

What is Darvon®?

Darvon® is a mild to moderate narcotic prescription pain reliever. It was withdrawn from the market in the United States on Nov. 19, 2010, due to its adverse effects on the heart, even when used at therapeutic doses. The main active ingredient in Darvon® is propoxyphene.

The toxicity to the heart is among a number of problems the medication faced over the years. Less than a year ago, a black box warning was added to the medication's package insert, cautioning against the possibility of intended and unintended overdose by patients. A black box warning is the strongest admonition the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can add to the enclosure accompanying the medication.

Darvon® Medication

Propoxyphene is an opioid agent, meaning that it can become addicting. Because of its recent recall, the FDA has asked physicians to contact patients who were receiving the medication, to advise them to stop taking it, and to discuss with them alternative pain relievers. The FDA recalled the medication based on its review of recent clinical studies showing the drug could cause changes in the electrical activity of the heart, leading to potentially lethal heart rhythm disorders.

The major heart rhythm problems linked to Darvon® (propoxyphene) are:

• Tachycardia (too rapid heartbeat)
• Bradycardia (too slow heart beat)
• Irregular heart beat

Other harmful side effects on the heart included:

• Heart attack
• Congestive heart failure
• Cardiac arrest (when the heart suddenly stops beating)

Darvon® Dosage

The ordinary dose of Darvon® is 65 mg of propoxyphene hydrochloride taken in capsule form once every four hours as needed to control pain. Patients were warned not to exceed the maximum dose of six capsules a day. Worries about overdosing were among the chief concerns of FDA officials.

Darvon® Vs. Darvocet®

Darvon® came on the market in 1957. About 15 years later, acetaminophen, another, less potent pain reliever, was added to the main ingredient, propoxyphene. This formulation is sold under the brand name Darvocet®. The acetaminophen increased the efficacy of the propoxyphene, enhancing the pain-relieving qualities of the drug.

Both drugs have now been recalled from the U.S. market. The Darvon® recall also involves all generic forms of propoxyphene.

Contact a Darvon® Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been harmed by Darvocet®, Darvon®, or another propoxyphene-based painkiller, you should consider filing a lawsuit against the drug maker to recover damages for the pain, suffering and expense you have experienced. To learn more about filing a Darvon® lawsuit, contact a Darvon® attorney today.