Recall of Darvocet and Darvon Recommended by FDA Panel
Published: February 2nd, 2009 • Comments: 59
A panel of outside advisors to the FDA have recommended that the agency withdraw approval for the painkiller Darvon, which is also sold as Darvocet with the addition of acetaminophen. The panel found that the minimal pain relief benefits provided by the drugs do not outweigh the substantial risk of overdose, suicide and other known side effects of Darvon.
Although the FDA is not required to follow the advice of their advisory panel and issue a Darvon and Darvocet recall, the agency usually does what their panels recommend.
The advisory panel met last week in Washington, D.C., to evaluate the safety of the drugs following a petition by the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, which called on the FDA to ban the drugs because they have been associated with over 2,000 accidental deaths, are physically addictive and are no more effective than other safer painkillers.
In June, Public Citizen filed a Darvon lawsuit against the FDA alleging that the agency was violating the law by failing to act on the petition they originally filed in 2006.
Darvon, which was first introduced in 1957, contains propoxyphene to relieve mild to moderate post-surgical pain.
Today it is most commonly prescribed as Darvocet, which combines the active ingredient in Darvon, propoxyphene, with acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol. Darvocet has become one of the top 25 most commonly prescribed medications, and combined the drugs have been prescribed to more than 22 million people.
According to an analysis prepared by the FDA for the hearing, more than 3,000 serious reports of Darvon and Darvocet problems were identified, with most involving suicides, addiction and overdoses. In addition, the agency indicated that with Darvocet, the Darvon component provides little to no more pain relief than taking acetaminophen alone.
The FDA advisory panel voted 14 t0 12 to recommend a recall of Darvocet and Darvon, as the benefits did not outweigh the risks.
Pingback by Darvon Lawsuits : AboutLawsuits.com on 2 February 2009:
[...] of deaths and is very addictive. On January 30, 2009, an FDA advisory panel recommended that a Darvon recall be issued because the risks outweight the minimal benefits provided by the [...]
Comment by Sue on 2 February 2009:
So I guess expecting patients to take responsibility for the usage of their own medication is asking too much? My Mother has been using Darvocet for years…when needed. Might as well recall a drug that has helped 22 million people because a few can’t read the directions on the bottle. Maybe the physicians should examine the mental health of their patients as well as their physical health prior to prescibing. If “getting addicted” to something that can hurt you is the concern–you better start recalling all drugs and alcohol, greasy hamburgers, candy, donuts, spicy food, and anything else that can be ingested in excess and do harm. It is the addictive personality that is the issue, not the drug. Where does this all stop?
Comment by Speaktruth on 2 February 2009:
Sue – The reason it’s being challenged is NOT because it’s great but weak people abuse it – Its being challenged because it doesn’t work, but it’s addictive, and can cause depression / suicide.
Your mom can take something else – or just take tylenol – that’s what’s working anyway.
Comment by Ed on 3 February 2009:
Who was on this “advisory panel?” How many were connected to Public Citizen? Who authorized Public Citizen to speak for us all? 3000 instances of “suicide, overdose, and addiction” in over 50 years of use? How does this compare to all other medicines of any kind? Who is the maker of this mole hill made into a mountain? The FDA seems to be missing the “big ones” and focusing on the little bits.
Comment by Nancy on 3 February 2009:
I agree with Sue, What is wrong with the people taking responsablity for themselves? I have been on Darvocet since I was 28 and now I am 54. I only take it when I can’t stand my pain anymore and it takes the edge off. I have RA. My hubby also takes it. He has Diabetes and bad kidneys. His legs hurt most days and he only takes it when he can’t stand the pain. We have been sharing a bottle of Darvocet 30 pills for well over 6 months now. I sure hope they find something that works as well when this comes off the market. I guess I could start on booze.
Comment by Tammy on 4 February 2009:
Ignorance abounds in our society. There’s no such thing as an ‘addictive personality’. That is a term invented by someone who is clueless about the disease of addiction – regardless of one’s chosen ‘poison’. It is also an allergy. Certain substances cause an abnormal reaction in the body called ‘cravings’. It’s a disease of both body and mind. An alcoholic/addict does not set out to be that way. They are born with it. It’s cause is genetic. Environment has a role in it as well. Both are a common thread.
Anyone who takes opiate based medications (Darvocet being one of many) over a long period of time even if it is only ‘as needed’ becomes dependent on it. While one is taking the drug it’s not a problem. However, it’s common for an addiction problem to arise when the drug is no longer available and many drugs require tapering off over time. Some require detox treatment in those with or without the disease.
Fentanyl should never have been marketed for use by humans. It’s 100 times stronger than morphine and it was developed as an anesthetic for large animals such as elephants and rhinos.
Addicts take responsiblity for their disease once they recognize it for what it is and seek help through others who have been there and are recovering. There is no cure.
It stops when a life becomes more important than money
I can’t help but wonder why someone would even bother to come to this site unless they or someone else in their family haved either died or been permanently harmed. Obviously there are those who have nothing better to do than make a fool of themselves.
Comment by keith on 4 February 2009:
I agree with Sue this med. is THE only med. i have found to work great
for me and my back and leg pain. PLEASE DO NOT BAN THIS MED.
PLEASE.
Comment by Mary on 4 February 2009:
Maybe when the physicians stop handing out medication like candy?
Comment by craig on 4 February 2009:
Darvocet is commonly prescribed in the elderly population due to its milder effects compared to stronger narcotics such as percocet or vicodin. This may be why we are seeing overdoses in such large numbers. Older patients may become confused and accidentally take too many. I fear that with the recall of Darvocet, more elderly patients will have to go on percocet or vicodin which could lead to INCREASED confusion and even MORE potential for adverse events.
Comment by kathryn on 5 February 2009:
Many physicians like NSAIDs, Darvocet and meds that are nonsched. or sched. IV–they can treat around the schedule and their DEA licenses– and many elderly pts are given Darvocet , Ultram, etc as everyday meds to be taken daily.. My elderly father is given 500 tablets at time –and his family doc had no qualms about long term use–yes, the pt is responsible, but the pt’s responsibility is a shared responsibility– (my father reads about his meds and takes as few as possible) but he is not a medical professional–and his Dr, his pharmacist and even these middlemen PBMs share responsibility. Esp. the Dr.. If there is no need for professional counsel–why not have everything available as OTC w/ pts deciding “what is intheir best interest”. By definition, patients have limited training in medical matters and are often asked to make decsions without expertise–hardly a level playing field.if you are not formally trained in medicine,phcy,etc–and those that are so trained should not be treating themselves or their families…all meds are risk-benefit–but Darvocet appears to offer more risk than benefit across population study (epidemiological study)–within any given individ. maybe a person finds relief– potential cardiac toxicity, accumulation of metabolites and potential for mental confusion etc in elderly whose clearance of repeated medications may be poor– seems to be a poor trade off for a medication that is no better than plain aspirin or Tylenol for most pts in terms of pain relief.
Comment by Mackenzie on 5 February 2009:
I have taken Darvocet for over 15 years for arthritis pain prn it works well. The problems reported with this drug could be applied to all pain medication. We should not be so afraid to control pain.
Comment by Aimee H on 5 February 2009:
Okay I think the thing about the this article is to say that for “some” not all, the darvon component does not work effectively and the pain relief is coming from the acetaminophen component found in tylenol.
If the darvon component is addictive in nature and the findings are that it does more harm than good…than maybe it should be removed from the market.
I have been on darvocet for the last 2 years for kidney stone pain and have found that it does not work 90% of the time…so I have stopped taking it altogether.
It is for every patient to take their medical destiny in their own hands…
Comment by Cindy on 5 February 2009:
I find this to be extremely disturbing. There may well be a risk of the problems that have beeen described, however, the “minimal pain relief” that is assumed is far from the truth. I have had many bone surgeries. Bone surgery is considered to be one of the most painful types of surgery to undergo. I am allergic to many of the families of pain killers, so after one or two days of injectable medcations in the hospital, the most effective pain killers that my doctor and I have found for this is Darvocet. It is not a be all/end all pain killer, but it is certainly more effective than a couple of Tylenol!! My mother has the same situation of being allergic to most pain medicines and has found Darvocet to be extremely effective for her pain. There are many medications that, when abused, cause severe side-effectsor death, but to ban all medications which have been used in this manner and to assume ineffectiveness of the medication simply to further your own cause seems incomprehensible.
Fine, regulate the medication more closely, but do not remove one of the few truely effective pain medicines from the market simply because there are problems with controlling it. It is not true that the medicine causes “minimal pain relief” and it certtainly is not true that it is no more effective than Tylenol. Believe me, we have tried amny other medications including Tylenol and found none that were as effective post-operatively as Darvocet is! please, do not take it off of the market simply because your advisors have opinions that do not seem to be based on facts!!
Comment by kathryn on 6 February 2009:
Hi the problems w/ Darvocet do not apply to all opioids as mentioned by Mackenzie . Mackenzie, you are so right that we should not be afraid to treat pain..just not Darvocet… As for Advisory panels–go to FDA website and you can learn about advisory panels.
Many opioids do not have the lingering metabolite problems of Darvocet as most are short acting–some are made long acting by putting the medication in a time release delivery system .. Methadone is an exception–very long acting…We have opioids that are better suited for use in mild,moder-and moder-severe pain. They should be used, but often are not because many physicians are reluctant to treat pain with more effective, stronger opioids–DEA concerns personal concerns about lack of expertise (that can be changed) and even moral concerns about treating pain at all …… As for the comment about “allergy” and substance abuse–they are not the same thing.There are people allergic to all sorts of things ided-but substance abuse in general, has genetic components (see Human Genome Project at NIH) , psychosocial components, and should be part of another discussion– the term “allergy” is often used in a vague way and may need to be better explained in a substance abuse forum not one that is about intractable pain and its treatments as it assumes that treating pain creates addiction.
The legit. medical treatment of chronic/intractable pain should not be lumped w/substance abuse, Tx should not only include opioid meds for intractable pain (or at times for acute pain), but tx should be multimodal w/ other meds, counseling, nutritional consults, PT, exercise, etc and should be ongoing in nature.All opioids will cause physical dependence. But that is not addiction. Addiction is another subject w/ its own set of behavioral issues… issues of aberrant use of a substance,and is a problem for sure, but should not be confused with the mgt of pain.. Tolerance can also develop in chronic pain pts. txed w/ opiods, but there are ways to manage that as well. Until we move away form treating legit chronic/intractable pain pts as drug addicts we will never have effective treatment for chronic/intractable pain.As for fentanyl–it is a useful drug (often used in anesthesia) and it is very useful for high level breakthru pain as it has an ultra short 1/2 life.. OTFC–transmucosal fentanyl–onset of relief in breakthru pain can relieveit as little as 5-10mins–and the drug is out out of the system completely within 2 hrs, but the effects of the drug are gone in about 45 mins.making it a viable alternative to an injection or expensive ER visit should a person using long acting ,daily opioids for intractable pain have a flare of higher pain.. Duragesic (fentanyl) patches–the membrane provides for slow release of the med is a lifesaver to many who cannot find relief from the kind of daily pain that if felt by a person who has no pain problem –the level of pain that intractable pain pts suffer daily would send the aver. person running to the ER if they felt that type of pain..
.
Comment by kay on 6 February 2009:
I agree with sue. I have been on Darocet for severe arthrits. I cannot take stronger medications because of the :drowsey side effects. Tylenol alone does nothing for severe arthrits pain,. Doctors are responsible for controlling pt medications. Taking this off the market will put pts on more potent narcotics which will cause more damage. If it were for this pain releif I would not be able to work I am 63 and my only support and do not want stronger pain medications. Please vote against this recall and make pts and their physicians accountable as they should be.You didnt quote the deaths from drug over doses from the other narcotics, bet they are thousand times more than this one.
Comment by Susie on 10 February 2009:
I too agree that this medication should not be banned. I for one, benefit from it tremendously. My rheumotoid pain is kept under control. So now the only choice my RA doctor has is tylenol or tramadol. I have tried tramadol or ultram as known before, and it does absolutely nothing. Why punish those of us who need this medication and are responsible to take it as prescribed. For those who over use the medication, they will overuse other thngs just as much. They say one is good, two is better and three or more is even better yet, that is for those who overuse medication. Please do not ban this medication and punish those of us who use it as prescribed. Limiting physicians on how to treat their patients is hard on the physician and even harder on the patient. I would hate to see individuals going other places to seek relief of pain and not even knowing what they are getting themselves into. Again, please do not ban this medication. Thanks for listening.
Comment by KC on 12 February 2009:
Thank you Kathryn for your comments. I thought it was interesting that the person who complained about ignorance in our society (Tammy) seems to be the most ignorant and ill-informed of all posts here! She even contradicted herself claiming that addiction was an allergy . . . no, its genetic . . . no, wait its the environment.
“. . . it’s common for an addiction problem to arise when the drug is no longer available” is one of the stupidest things I have ever heard. That is just dumb. If you are physically dependent on a drug and it is withheld, then of course your body is going to react but that is not the same thing as addiction.
The comment that “Fentanyl should never have been marketed for use by humans . . .It’s 100 times stronger than morphine and it was developed as an anesthetic for large animals such as elephants and rhinos” further reveals this posters ignorance — each and everyone of these assertions is completely WRONG!
Paul Janssen developed the drug for use in humans, it is 80 times stronger than morphine, and it is used extensively for anesthesia and analgesia. Also, in its patch form it is one of the most difficult opioids to abuse. The FDA, independent scientists, doctors and chronic pain patients all recognize that fentanyl is probably the best drug for the long term “control” of severe chronic pain. The only others comparable are oxycontin and methadone.
Please don’t misunderstand me for I don’t disagree with Tammy’s entire post. With respect to the following I must wholeheartedly agree:
“Obviously there are those who have nothing better to do than make a fool of themselves.”
Comment by sandra on 12 February 2009:
My mother, 92 years old, has successfully used Darvocet for many years. She has severe bone pain and cannot medically tolerate surgery. Darvocet is the only effective pain reliever she can tolerate physically. She has had violent nausea and hives from fentanyl, hydrocodone, morphine and codeine. It would be a travesty to remove Darvocet because some people abuse it, when others have no other effective alternative for pain relief.
Comment by Keith on 12 February 2009:
I am a physician, and I find this very, very disturbing. I know of many patients for whom one narcotic pain med or another doesn’t work, causes vomitting, etc. If Darvocet works for these patients, why should it be taken of the market?
Comment by Charity on 16 February 2009:
I was just prescribed this medication last night, and I have to say I was a little surprised at all of the questions they didn’t ask me. Apparently this medication causes a rise in suicidal thoughts and depression. The doctors didn’t ask me anything about my mental health status, and that makes me pretty reluctant to take it.
I really feel the doctors dropped the ball on my whole hospital experience but that’s a discussion for the grievance I think I’m going to file. Anyway, if doctor’s are going to prescribe something that might make somebody suicidal, I think the main question should be if they have suicidal tendencies. I need the painkillers, but I think I’ll only take half of the recommended dosage and half an ibuprofen.
Comment by Dene' on 16 February 2009:
I have suffered from intersitial cystitis for many years. My physician prescribed Darvon to me approximatly 16 months ago and I was almost immediatly pain free. With few exceptions, I no longer feel the daily discomfort that I have been tormented with for the better part of 12 years. Obviously the argument that the pain is being reduced because of the Tylenol is incorrect because Darvon does not have the Tylenol in it. I feel that the risk of sucide would be much greater if I had to endure the pain that I used to, prior to me being prescribed the drug. I certainly hope they don’t take it off the market
Comment by judith on 24 February 2009:
I have severe arthritis, a herniated disc and am currently suffering with sciatica. Darvocet has been the only pain killer (other than Lortab) that has given me any relief. I hope they reconsider before taking this off the market. Tylenol??? please, that just doesn’t work for this kind of pain.
Comment by Charles on 25 February 2009:
So I guess my wife has to suffer because they decided that no one can be responsible to use the drug correctly. Darvocet is the only pain med that works with her. She had surgery yesterday and has just found out that she can’t get her pain meds. She is allergic to almost everything else on the market.
Comment by Susi on 1 March 2009:
Every drug has safety issues. Nothing is “free”! But drugs are not interchangeable for people, either. If one works, such as Darvocet, that doesn’t mean even a very similar drug will work. I have taken many different pain killers (I only take them occasionally) and the only one that works without making me feel I am from Mars is Darvocet. I can take a very small amount and get some relief when it’s very necessary. Maybe Eli Lilly thought Darvocet would fade away when Cymbalta came out? since that didn’t happen, Lilly stopped “fighting” for Darvocet and (wink wink) the FDA has a newfound zeal for banning Darvocet? These facts made me wonder–
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1438278/is_cymbalta_behind_the_new_fda_push.html?cat=71
Comment by Arzosa on 4 March 2009:
I have fibromyalgia and just recently got released from the hospital from where I was being treated for a kidney infection. While in hospital i was given dilauded when released they said to get the perscription from my family doctor, and my family doc decides that darvocet is going to be just as good. Now you tell me this is going to cut it for pain? I think not. Vicodin doesn’t do anything and percocet makes me sick, but he says this darvocet is the miracle cure-all that will fix me.
I think doctors are just perscribing whatever they have stock in, or can make their own money in, regardless of wether or not it helps or hurts us, just look at the issue with Methodone, kills 2 out of every 100 who use it but they still won’t pull that one either cause it makes too much money. I don’t think you people who are finding relief from your pain from this drug will have anything to worry about any time soon if that controversy is any indication, ao don’t fret your heads about it and to those of you who have a problem with it…it’s as simple as this…. STOP TAKING IT!!!
Comment by Jennifer on 11 March 2009:
I, too agree with Sue, Kieth and a few others, especially Cindy. I take it for basically the same reason’s. I don’t get sick when I take Darvocet. At one point a pain management Dr. wanted to take me off it and put me on , of all things , Oxycotton. I told him , flat out no. So then he put me on a couple others that made me suicidal with a few days. So NO I won’t take anything but Darvocet.
Comment by Kaye on 16 March 2009:
Having done my own research by comparing pain relief medications and have found Darvocet to be superior to all others. I have tried tylenol
alone, and vicodin and feel that the darvocet works the best. I don’t use it daily, but occasionally need more than NSAIDS alone and it can be used in combination.
Comment by Samantha on 6 April 2009:
I do understand that people are in pain and require some form of pain treatment. But, what I do not understand is the selfish responses I have read. It is not about you the living, it is about those who have died because of this drug. Regardless of whether or not they it was accidental or intentional. The fact that they suffered a death because of this drug would ne sufficient to consider it to be banned. I do not sympothize with anyone who thinks of themselves before the thousands of people that have died and the thousands of people suffering because of their loss. Some of these people that have died are kids… what do they know about the time release component or how many is sufficient to take if they are given this pain medicine by a friend and then die from it. What ever happen to sympathy and compassion for other people. I personally would prefer to have arthritis and any other pain than to feel the pain that I feel on a daily basis.. My son was only 16 years old when he was given this medicine as a pain killer. You see he suffered from Sinus headaches.. and his friend gave him darvocet to releive the pain… he did not know what it was nor did he think that this pill (that looks so similiar to the tylenol 8 hour he was accustomed to taking when he suffered these headaches would kill him. ) He will be 17 this month. He had alot going for him and alot of love for the world. SO, if your child died from this medication or someone you loved would you think that the medication should be banned? and if so, than you are a hypocrite!!! As I stated before, your worries seem selfish!
Comment by Aaron on 16 April 2009:
I am on Darvocet for a severe case of porphyria. Ive taken it for years with no side effects. I consider it a wonderful drug. At least with it I can function without being in ALOT of pain and really all the other drugs ive tried either make me sick or dont do anything for me. I really hope they dont ban it. Samantha I understand your concerns but honestly a person can get ahold of any single drug on the market and in high enough doses they will all make you sick and potentially even kill you.
Comment by Darlene on 1 May 2009:
I have been prescibed darvocet for over 30 years PRN for RA and other pain issues. I have also taken myself off the med with my doctor’s supevision and have never experienced any withdrawal symptoms. If an individaul wants to commit suicide they can do it on almost any drug, especially antianxiety meds and antidepressants but you don’t see Xanax, Ativan, Prozac etc taken off the market. Other medications I have tried for pain hasn’t worked because it makes me too drowsy to drive/work or is ineffective. As a mental health professional, I have seen overdoses (acidential and deliberate) on everything you can imagine, blood pressure, heart meds to antifreeze. How far should we allow others to control what is our personal responsibility? What’s next, banning those medical meds people have overdosed on, or how about all the other substances people try in an atempt to relieve their emotonal pain??
Comment by Pam on 3 May 2009:
I am a nurse practitioner. Many of our patients use darvocet for legit. pain. Every drug on the market has the potential to kill if not used properly. This medication is effective. Again it boils down to responsibility of parents, adults, medical providers, schools and pharmacies. Physicians are nervous about prescribing more potent narcotics even when there are well documented objective diagnostic testing of patients because of the DEA ramifications. This will severely affect the treatment options to patients and has the potentential to increase deaths and injuries if stronger narcotics are used. Finally, can you tell me who and how this study was performed stating that darvocet was the same as tylenol?
Comment by Jessica on 4 May 2009:
I am 23 and I have been taking Darvocet 100-650 for 8 months now and I can see why there are so many accidental OD’s this medicine does not work as good as other opiate pain relievers. In order to get the same pain relief as say vicodin for my buldging disc and pinched sciatic nerve I have to tak 4 – to five a day to keep my pain away as with vicodin 2-3 will work and with vicodin I don’t have to take them everyday. This medication may work better in elderly because they usually are more sensitive to all meds. I think this medicine off the market or make it only available to the elderly. For me and people my age it does nothing it is pointless and people my age are having to suffer in pain because Dr.’s want to prescribe something less addictive than vicodin give me a break!!!
Comment by Mark on 6 May 2009:
I agree with Sue. Darvacet is a mild pain killer and works well for many people I know including myself. I do NOT want to take anything stronger. It would be very detrimental to take this drug off the market for the millions of us that this drug does exactly what is needed when used correctly. I strongly believe that people who are not helped by this drug need to shut up and let the millions of us that this drug helps benefit from its use.
Comment by Jessica on 8 May 2009:
Mark
Saying the rest of us should shut up is rude and uncalled for. My Dr. prescribed it because he said that it is less addictive than other pain meds and after I told him it was not working he said oh well. I am being judged by the medical community for needing pain meds to control spinal injuries I got from three car accidents (not caused by me) because of my age they think I will become a drug addict so they give me this poor excuse of a pain med. So not only are people my age suffering from pain and not getting help but there are other people out there dying from this medicine because their doctor told them the same thing I was told and instead of giving up they take twice as many Darvocets to get the same pain relief as other drugs and ACCIDENTALLY OD. If your children or parents or any family member close to you had this happen then you might understand how us OTHER PEOPLE feel. If they get rid of Darvocet YOU PEOPLE always have other meds like ultram to turn to. People like me are getting nothing because of stereotypes so why don’t you shut up and listen to what other people have to say and stop thinking about just yourself. Read Samantha’s comment 6 comments above then tell her to shut up. I would love to see what happens!!
Comment by Linda on 21 May 2009:
I have been on Daarvocet off and on for well over 10 years and it has been the one thing I can rely on to take the edge off my fibromyalgia pain. I only take it as needed, but when it’s needed, it gives good relief from pain.
PLEASE don’t take my pain relief away!
Comment by Marlene on 26 May 2009:
I read the article in the Arthitis Magazine and then started researching the issue with Darvocet. I spoke to my Doctor who said there was no reason for me to stop taking the medicine. I have severe joint and muscle pain from an autoimmune disease and Darvocet helps me deal with the pain. I only take it when I can’t stand the pain. I stopped taking it recently for 2 months and had no withdrawal symptoms. My doctor prescribed Tramodol but I have not taken it yet. I contacted the FDA and they emailed me the meeting meetings regarding the Advisory Committee and the reasons why it should be taken off the market. I am trying to make the best decision for my health.
Comment by Betty on 29 May 2009:
My experience with Darvocet is two fold. My mother, in her 80s, took Darvocet for over 10 years to combat severe pain from osteoporous, sciliousus, and post shingles nerve permanent damage. She could tolerate this drug well and it gave her some relief. As she aged, she suffered more pain from additional spinal fractures. Her pain specialist physician tried her on tramadol, oxycontin, and finally the fentanyl patches. She could not tolerate tramadol or oxycontin because they made her head “feel funny”, dizzy, and generally dull and sluggish thinking. She tolerated Darocett quite well even tho it did not make her pain free, it made life tolerable. My husband suffered a severe compression fracture in the L1 vertebra. All pain medications tried, except Darvocet, affected his mental aquity, making him zomby-like with in two days of starting them. This included ultram and ultram ER. Percocet makes him sick and causes him to vomit, which is not good when he also suffers from orthostatic hypotension and dehydration with this condition causes him to faint. Drugs affect different people differently, and it is usually a “trial and error” process between the patient and the doctor to find the medication that best works to control the pain and still be tolerated. Every drug has both benefits and side effects that must be balanced for each individual. I believe Darvocet should not be taken off the market. Stronger warnings concerning the negative side effects should be posted on the medication label. Older people in particular, who are slow to metabolize any drug out of their system, seem to have more problems with the stronger pain medications. I urge that Darvocet be left on the market so that the people who can tolerate it and do get pain relief, and cannot tolerate the other pain medications, can still get relief without becoming “woosey”, “disorientated”, “slower thinking”, “dizzy”, and more prone to falling. There will always be accidental and over dose deaths for a variety of reasons on almost any drug or combination of drugs. Heavens, aspirin causes me to have upper GI bleeding when I have taken as few as two 325mg. There are deaths from people taking aspirin and dying from internal bleeding. Should aspirin be taken off the market? Give the data, give the warnings, then leave it to the indiividual and their physicians to figure out what works best for the patients.
Comment by Jean on 3 June 2009:
My husband has chronic facial pain from an exposed nerve beside his nose. He has tried every pain medication in existence over the past ten years. He has a deep brain stimulator implant that does not stop the pain. He was using the Duragesic patch which caused demetia. He was in the second stage of ALZ. After he an eye tooth pulled, the pain was better. Two of his doctors thought the Duragesic Patch was contributing to the dementia. He came off the Patch and began taking Darvocet, his mind cleared up. My husband, the father and grandfather was back. He could play cards with our grandchildren. Before, he did not know where he was and I could not leave him alone because he was falling and wandering off. This is a miracle drug for him. Now our Doctor is afraid to give it to him. They want to prescribe Lortab, which is sold on the street. He itches when he takes Lortab. I have taken Darvocet for 20 years for back and neck pain from an auto accident. What is happening now, the pills are different Each Generic has it’s own problems. The pink pills are mild, the orange/red are stronger and the white pills are worthless. The insurance companies want the cheapest Generic. When we get a new prescription I will request the Brand Name to prove my point. I am sure you can be dependant on a pain killer. Only people who are in terrible pain understand the frustration when you know what works for you and you are unable to get it. The drug store tells me there is no difference between the Generics. When I was first injured, the Doctor told me to listen to my body signals. I know what works for me and I have seen what works for my Husband. Taking Darvocet off the market is not the answer. Maybe some of these patients are overdosing because the Generics are not as strong as they once were and they are taking more than recommended. When you are in constant pain you lose you thought process. Because there are addicts who abuse drugs and agencies that oversee Doctors who prescibe meds, the Doctors are afraid to give you the meds you need. Now Darvocet has been added to the list of drugs for extinction.
Comment by Kristy on 8 July 2009:
I do pity Samantha and her tragic loss of her son. That is a terrible thing to lose a child. It’s understandable that you are upset and have a different take on all of this than most. However, using a friend’s medication without doctor’s consent is dangerous for anyone, especially a child. I have suffered with Interstitial Cystitiis for a long time and Darvocet really gives me releif and is better for me than a stronger dose of something else. Many others are in the same boat in that this milder pain control is quite helpful to have a normal life. Doctors prescribe, patients take and should take medicaiton as directed. It’s unfortunate that people have died. I think I read 200 deaths last year. Well, it is tragic, but abusing medicine whether by taking something not prescribed for you or taking too much is that person’s fault and not the person’s fault who actually needs pain relief to function. I don’t think it’s selfish for someone to want pain relief. I don’t think it minimizes others’ hurt of having lost a loved one from this medicine.
Comment by Del on 8 July 2009:
My husband has been on Darvacet for three years, now. Ever since he had his leg amputated above his knee. Darvacet with Tylonol are the only meds that ease his phantom pain. He only takes them when he is in a lot pain. It could be once a week or for up to four days at a time. But he only takes one Darvacet every four to six hours and Tylonol two every four hours. They work great for him. I hope they will not be taken off the market.
Comment by Renee on 8 July 2009:
My doctor and I tried several different approaches for resolving the pain associated with my endometriosis. Everything we tried had undesirable side effects. We finally landed on Darvocet which was over two years ago and it has worked wonders. There is no way that acetaminophen alone would help as much as this does and I would not want to take anything stronger. I can still function at work with the Darvocet (desk job). I discussed the addiction issue with my doctor and he has no fear of me becoming addicted because of the responsible way that I use it. Let the patient be responsible!
Comment by Dave on 12 July 2009:
I’ve been taking Darvocet for over two years. I take one at night when I wake up with pain in my hip. Pain lowers and I go back to sleep. Nothing wrong when a resposible person is in control.
Comment by Cathy on 19 July 2009:
Why can’t responsible, law abiding citizens and their doctors continue to decide what course of treatment is best for thier situation and condition? I am highly allergic to drugs containing codeine or moraphine . I have found relief from Darvocet. I would rather take 2 of these a day than have to take 8 extra strength tylenol, with ALOT less pain relief, and then fall over dead from liver failure!! These people making these decisions should try having to live with chronic pain everyday. If you take away something that helps us remain productive, caring, human beings how will that benefit society? These are not illegal street drugs that we are talking about. These are prescribe by physicians that are so closely monitored they are almost afraid to help their patients that are living everyday in horrible pain. I say the less pain and suffering there is in the world should make every “caring” human being happier for their fellow human being and will make this world a better world!!
Comment by billy on 25 July 2009:
Perhaps it is the acetometephen we should be concerned with. Over 100 people die from this drug alone each year, not to mention the liver problems that the drug causes. Taking 4 darvocet 100/650 per day for a long period of time is no different than taking 5 or so extra strength Tylenol. If you visit that company’s site the word “safety” is all over it. Is it safe? I think many tend to see one drug as “safer” than the other but they are the same where acetometephen is concerned. I have used darvocet for pain related to Cystic Fibrosis so before anyone calls me stupid (seems popular here on this site) or some other insult please know that I am on your side. I am pretty sure that more people are addicted to many other pain med’s than darvocet, it alone can not account for the misery of millions that are dependent on the long list of “more effective” prescription narcotics. It can only be a money issue in my opinion. If public safety is a concern let’s here why thimerosal is given to children when so many signs point to it being horrible? That list goes on and on right?
Comment by david on 9 August 2009:
I HAVE BEEN TAKING 2 DARVOCT N100 TABLETS DAILY FOR OVER 18 YEARS FOR SCIATIC PAIN. IT DOES WORK AND WORKS WELL. IT IS TOLERATED WHERE OTHER OPIATE MEDS CAUSE SEVERE SIDE EFFECTS, SUCH AS CONSTIPATION. IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THE STATISICAL PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE TAKEN AND ARE TAKING DARVOCET AND THE PERCENTAGE OF DEATH FROM ACCIDENTAL OVER DOSE (WHICH IS THE ONLY FACTOR THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED) THAT NUMBER IS AN ASTOUNDING 0.00009 PERCENT. THAT IS ONLY FOR THE ON YEAR OF 22,000,000 PERSCRIPTIONS DIVIDED BY THE TOTAL MORTALITY NUMBER OF 2000 INCIDENTS RECORDED FOR MANY YEARS OF USE. I THINK ANY RATIONAL PERSON CAN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND HOW IGNORANT A GROUP OF PEOPLE TRYING TO PROTECT THE WORLD FROM ANY HARM, REGARDLESS OF THE GREATER GOOD THAT WESTERN MEDICINE HAS BROUGHT TO MANKIND, MUST BE STOPPED. WE WILL SOON BE RESTRICTED FROM THE USE OF TOO MUCH WATER AS IT CAUSES DROWNING. BY THE WAY, I OFTEN STOP TAIKING DARVOCT FOR PERIODS OF UP 90 DAYS; COLD TURKEY WITH NO NEGATIVE RESULTS OR PROBLEMS. SO ADDICTION IS RELATIVE TO THE PERSONS PHYS AND PSYCH OLOGY. MAY REASON PREVAIL BEFORE WE ARE ALL UNDER THE HAND OF ORWELL’S NIGHTMARE.
Comment by Bob on 14 August 2009:
I was taking darvoncet, which has a lot of aspirn in it. Don’t think thats
to good for you. However Darvon, Does not. I have never had a problem
with it. Took it for years, and have been off it for at least 8 years. Whats
the probelm. It made me feel good. Stopped the pain. I guess that’s bad.
We are better off to suffer the pain. I’m 71 and not worried about the
side effects.
Comment by Rose on 20 August 2009:
I have been taking Darvocet for nearly 2 years now for chronic pain. I am a 35 year old mother of two youong girlies and I have to take a pain medication every four hours to make it through the day. I would rather take Darvocet over tylenol #3, vicodin, etc because of their side effects. I would rather LIVE my life than lay in bed or sit on the toilet (because of constipation)!
I don’t know what oxy-morons were on the advisory panel, but ALL pain medication is addicitive, so are sleep aids, tabacco and alcohol. But we don’t see a ban on those products, right? I wonder how Darvocet would rank if compared to the accidents and side effects of tabacco, alcohol, and sleeping pills?
t’s about time for these so called “expert” advisory panels to stop putting the blame on the manufacturers. Darvocet works for the pain and should be taken as directed (just like all other meds). Who should take responsibility for overdosing and misuse? The damn careless person that is shoving pills down their throat?
My experience has been that the prescribing doctors, pharmacies, and manufacturers have all implemented and exercised the monitoring and usage of Darvocet to their patients. If all parties continue to commit to their responsibilities, this will not be an issue. Aren’t there more serious items on our agendas?
Comment by Tiki on 24 August 2009:
I’ve been taking darvocet for about a year and a half for migraines and tension headaches. I also have fibromyalgia. Tramadol with ibuprofen helps more with the fibro pain. Tylenol by itself does absolutely nothing for me. I know it’s the darvon component that is helping relax me so the headache pain can go away. I can feel it working like that. I also have muscle relaxers and xanax. I”m sure it’s the darvon itself that’s providing the pain relief that the other medicines aren’t able to in any combination. I’ve experimented with different combinations, because I really don’t like taking drugs that have such an addictive effect. For me, Darvocet allows me to funtion with a good attitude.
Comment by Jeremy on 15 September 2009:
I was just prescribed Darvon today for the first time. I have, unfortunately, taken many different kinds of pain killers over the past ten years due to a ruptured disc in my back. More recently I have been taking a few hydrocodones/apap’s a day but since losing my health insurance and now doctor do not take anything. I also take cymbalta. I recently ran out of cymbalta and have been having some pretty uncomfortable side affects. So, today I went to the ER to see what I should do. They prescribed my a months worth of Cymbalta and 20 Darvons for my pain. After reading this summery above I am more than a little reluctant to take the Darvons. If my back acts up I will most likely take one because the type of severe pain I get is enough to make you consider suicide in itself. What should I do? Should I go back down to the ER and request a different pain med? Something tells me that I would have to be readmitted and consequently billed for a second visit. I also would like to address the “addiction” and “dependance” arguements. People are geneticly different and will develope dependance on things differently. I was on delauded while in the hospital after my surgery and then was switched to 10hydrocodone/325apap “vicodons”. I was on 8 or so of these a day for a month or so and when I stopped taking them became very sick and had terrible withdrawl symptoms. I was not missusing this medication and developed a dependancy or addiction and it was horrible. I have since been on methodone, percocet,ultram and a handfull of other things over the years. Pain is a tricky thing to treat without creating dependance. Lower doses of vicodon have probably worked the best for me with little side effects.
Comment by Garrick on 17 September 2009:
I as a Pain Management physician NEVER use the drug propoxyphene or even the narcotic combo Darvocet. I have seen the side affects that come along with the drug. Also I find that propoxyphene doesn’t really work well. Which is why people overdose on it because it doesn’t work so they keep taking and taking sometimes to reach the high feeling that other opiates induct….. On that note I would like to address what’s going on with Tiki… I can understand why your doctor would place you on darvocet because it is for milid pain but since the darvocet doesnt really work.. I would tell your doctor that. Muscle relaxers are a good Xanax is or alprazolam is also something good for migraines for the onset most of the time benzos make you drowsy and you just fall asleep. Xanax is a GABA-A inhibitor and realeases a calming affect… Since you have fibromyalgia I personally would give you…. Neurontin or Lyrica , Diazepam (valium) and give you Tylenol #3 only for an as needed purpose. I do think that would really help!.. i hope I was of some assistance !
Comment by Cheryl on 27 October 2009:
For those of you who think acetaminophen is the only thing that is working in Darvocet, you are absolutely, completely WRONG! I can take Tylenol and it does absolutely NOTHING for my fibromyalgia pain. I would not use Tylenol for a simple headache. It does nothing to relieve any pain symptom I may have. Advil or Aleve will give me substantial relief from pain, but it comes at the price of terrible heartburn (for me). I cannot take Cymbalta for the same reason; it gives me horrible heartburn. I tried Lyrica and was comfortable, and had little pain, but I also didn’t feel like doing anything but lie on the sofa and read. I gained 40 pounds. My doctor took me off of it.
I take Darvocet as prescribed, and I have never needed more than he prescribed, which is four a day. I take one Soma at night to stop muscle spasms from waking me up. Pain management solved.
Every person’s body is different. Stop being such busybodies, and trying to control other people’s lives!! I am getting totally FED up with it!!!!!!
Comment by Evelyn on 14 November 2009:
My doctor gave me darvocet to take twice a day. Must be careful because I think it couses low platelet because is has acetometephen in it.
I was just told I have low platelet. Check it out??????
Comment by Jim on 25 November 2009:
This is really upsetting to me. Darvocet is only medication that I can handle for my pain. Morphine can almost immediately shut down my lungs, codeine and vicodin cause severe life threatening allergic reaction, even many OTC can inflame my GERD. (Pain is from broken back, so wish there was something stronger I could handle.) Top it all off they are removing my asthma inhaler medication now at same time and replacement medication is useless. These are the 2 main medications I have to stay alive, and so feel almost as if I am personally being attacked by FDA. They seem to have decided to euthanize me, but maybe they are actually trying to kill greater numbers of people than just me. As for me, I will save a large enough dose of Darvocet just in case this medication is removed, life is already painful enough, and I will leave a note saying exactly why, it will not be an accidental overdose! I am 54 and have been taking Darvocet for 37 years, and have almost died from other pain medications well over a dozen times, I’m too old to start playing russian roulette with pain medications again.
Comment by Denise on 2 December 2009:
Darvocets are no more problematic than Lortab. As I work in a correctional facility, 60+% or our inmates are here due to theft to purchase them, dealing (Lortabs), driving while under the influence of Lortab, and so on. There is absolutely no street value for Darvocet because it is not nearly so addictive and one does not get near the “bump” as with Lortabs. Perhaps death due to Lortab should be examined as well.
Comment by Hana on 19 December 2009:
everyone on this panel seems to be ignorant why dont you look up what this medication does to the body that you all think it is so great. If one of your loved ones die from this medication either of you will be talking but to find out how to stop it from being prescribed and being missused on others without their knowledge. I feel very sorry for all of you in how ignorant you really are..I hope you never have to walk to a cemetery to bury anyone you know and love. I thought Americans were smarter but after reading everyones selfish comments try to educate yourselves about medication, just because it does one thing it dont mean its not going to cause another….all of you selfish ignorant people educate yourselves
Comment by patricia on 1 January 2010:
I started taking Darvocet one year ago after a back operation. The surgeon said, “It was one of the worst back he ever saw.” He gave me a pain killer (one of those strong addictive type) no help. He gave me Darvocet, wonderful as far as a pain reliever. I never take more than one a day and some days none. I find no addiction (I am a recovering alcoholic so I know something about addiction). Maybe this is why the FDA want to ban it. Any way can we fight this I am in. As to the ignorance of Americans I state almost every medication can kill you especially if it’s abused. You Hana want everybody else to take away our decision and blame it on somebody else. I say I am willing to take the chance. Live with arthritic pain everyday. It’s not living. NOTHING ELSE WORKS FOR ME.
Comment by Nicole on 1 February 2010:
While I feel bad for Samantha up there who lost her son….and though I know it was stated before, this particular part of her post is what baffles me.
” My son was only 16 years old when he was given this medicine as a pain killer. You see he suffered from Sinus headaches.. and his friend gave him darvocet to releive the pain ”
So what happened to the friend? Were they arrested for giving someone that wasn’t perscribed a painkiller, drugs? Drug Trafficking? What about Murder? I mean basically if you wanna look at it, the kid gave the kid a drug and he died, he killed him. Who was the perscription for? I am going to guess that other kids parent, and he stole it from them.
….but instead of attacking that you’d rather attack an entire group of people who do take personal responsibiltity, use the medication properly, do not give it to others who aren’t perscribed it and also seem to be able to live better, fuller, active lives.
Personally I have Rhumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Diabetic Neuropathy, two painful skin conditions, one that causes giant, grapefruit sized boils that break open and then drain pus for a month….and adding into that my Diabetes, the sores don’t heal fast or normally…often getting painful celluitis in the wounds no matter how clean I keep them….The Neuropathy is not only in my hands and feet, but on my scalp as well and gets to be so painful that I cannot brush my hair, wash my hair, touch my hair, I even had to have my proud, beautiful waist-long hair cut off because of the pain I was suffering.
I too take Darvocet N-100. I am allowed 4 pills a day, but often times I only take 2, one with my morning meds and one with my nighttime meds. As long as I keep that routine, I can move around my home and do my ADL’s with minimal difficulty. I have -never- had thoughts of suicide while taking Darvocet, I do not drink Alcohol (because I have a heart problem and on too many other drugs) and I do not abuse my pain meds or share them with anyone else. My Doctor can call me up at any time and order me to come in with my pills and do a count and will find me perfectly within normal use limits.
But do you know how long it took for me to get this relief? 4 years. 4 YEARS of begging for relief and being treated like I was some druggie on the street looking for a fix….how humliating it was for me. I have never had a drug problem, my police record shows no charges for anything drug related…so why am I being treated like some addict because I have tried everything else and Darvocet is the only thing that is relieving my pain?
This stigma of people on painkillers are just junkies needs to go away….I tried Lyrica but with my heart troubles, I was sucking down Nitro pills like Pez and it just wasn’t working for me..
I am truly sorry Samantha you lost your boy, as a mother of an 11 year old boy myself, I can barely begin to imagine the pain you are feeling, but to blame a drug that benefits millions of people world wide, is wrong and selfish of you as well. This drug has made my life better for me and my son who suffers from watching his mother suffer….
Think of that as well, before you rush off to vindicate your child’s death, that other kid should not have given it to him without your knowledge or consent, and that doesn’t make the drug the problem, but people….
Comment by Nicole on 2 February 2010:
Oh and also Samantha; one more comment regarding your post:
“What ever happen to sympathy and compassion for other people. I personally would prefer to have arthritis and any other pain than to feel the pain that I feel on a daily basis.”
Do you have any idea how it feels to live with Chronic Pain? To not be able to bathe yourself, cook, do your laundry, drive, work or play with your child because you are in so much pain that all you can do is lie there and cry? So where is your sympathy and compassion for other people? I wouldn’t wish the pain I live through to my mother-in-law let alone any other living being.
I am going to guess your answer is no.
So before you sit here and chastise others and make us feel bad because we finally have some relief and we are able to live a smidge better of a quality of life…..think about how rude your comments sounded.
Everytime you point a finger at someone, there are three more pointed back at you…..
Comment by Cheryl on 10 March 2010:
my mom took Darvocet regularly, the Doctor would give it to her like nothing else, for pain, we always thought she was addicted to it, even if she took it and needed another they would say that is fine, My mom had back pain and upper shoulder pain, she passed away in 2007, I feel the drug is given out to easy. I think people can get addicted to this drug very easy, she was in pain all the time but after when the pill worn off she would lake it again or even.