New Orleans residents who have been prescribed Darvocet or Darvon should be aware that the FDA pulled these painkillers off the U.S. market late last year. If you are currently using either of these medications, you should immediately consult your doctor to discuss switching to another form of pain management.
The decision to remove Darvocet and Darvon from the market came in the wake of the FDA receiving new data indicating that propoxyphene – the drug contained in these medications – is capable of causing potentially fatal heart rhythm abnormalities. According to the FDA, these new studies showed that the drug caused significant changes to the electrical activity of the heart, even when used within prescribed dosages.
The manufacturer of Darvon and Darvocet, Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals Inc., has voluntarily agreed to withdraw the drugs from the market. The FDA has also contacted manufacturers of the generic forms of these propoxyphene-containing painkillers and requested voluntary removal of the products. Propoxyphene – an opioid – had been approved for use as a painkiller by the FDA since 1957.
The U.S. has been slow to respond to a growing concern about the potential hazard of these medications. Propoxyphene-based drugs have been banned in the United Kingdom since 2005 and the European Union began a phased withdrawal of propoxyphene-based drugs in 2009. In January of 2009, an FDA advisory committee recommended that the drug be banned, but it was instead decided to attach stronger warnings to the product and to require the manufacturer to conduct additional safety studies.
If you or a loved one has suffered a heart attack or developed other heart-related issues while using Darvon, Darvocet, or the generic form of propoxyphene, you should consider exploring your legal rights. Furthermore, if you know someone who has suffered because of a drug recall of any medication, please feel free to reach out to us at (504) 527-8767. We would be happy to provide you with additional information.
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