Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, Inc., has agreed to withdraw all brand versions of the pain medication propoxyphene, which is found in Darvon and Darvocet. This voluntary withdrawal comes at the request of the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) after new clinical data showed that the drug puts patients at risk of serious heart rhythm abnormalities that can be fatal.
Propoxyphene is an opioid that is used to treat mild or moderate pain, and is sold by prescription under the name of Darvon, and when combined with acetaminophen, under the name of Darvocet.
The FDA released a statement in which they state that Darvon & Darvocet have side effects that far outweigh the benefits of the drugs as pain relievers. The FDA is advising health care professionals to stop prescribing drugs containingpropoxyphene to their patients as soon as possible and discontinue the use of Darvon or Darvocet in the treatment of patients that are already being prescribed the drugs.
The FDA requested the Recall of Darvon and Darvocet after results from a new study indicated that even in therapeutic doses, the drugs had significant side effects on the electrical activity of the heart. The changes (which can be seen on an electrocardiogram) can increase the risk of abnormal hearth rhythms. These findings lead the FDA to conclude that the safety risks of propoxyphene outweigh it’s potential pain relieving benefits.
If you have taken the pain medication Darvon, Darvocet, or any other medication containing the drug propoxypheneand have developed abnormal heart rhythms, suffered a heart attack or experienced any other cardiovascular side effects, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact a qualified Pennsylvania Injury Lawyer at our firm today for a FREE Consultation about your case.