Monday Med Mania

What's Up With Darvocet?

I was first prescribed Darvocet back in 80's for pain after removal of my wisdom teeth. I didn't know a lot about pain medicine back then, but I remember thinking that my Darvocet didn't work very well as far as relieving my pain. I think I actually took three tablets out of the bottle and the rest sat in my parents medicine cabinet for years. Three months later I was diagnosed with a heart murmur. I have no way of knowing if those three Darvocet tablets contributed to my diagnosis, but the recent recall of Darvocet does give a reason for concern.

The FDA's recommendation and health alert requested that companies voluntarily withdraw propoxyphene (Darvocet or Darvon) from the market. The FDA also issued a statement, "the safety risks to patients outweigh its benefits for pain relief at recommended doses." Therefore, if you are currently taking these drugs it would be in your best interest to contact your physician as soon as possible.

If you are still unsure about what to do if you are taking Darvocet, the FDA recommends the following guidelines:

• Talk to your healthcare professional about discontinuing propoxyphene (Darvocet or Darvon) and switching to alternative pain medication.
• Talk to your healthcare professional about any concerns you may have.
• Contact your healthcare professional immediately if you experience an abnormal heart rate or rhythm, palpitations or other symptoms including dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting.
• Report any side effects with propoxyphene to the FDA's MedWatch program using the link provided.

For questions regarding disposal of unused propoxyphene in your household, follow the recommendations outlined in the Federal Drug Disposal Guidelines.