Darvon and Darvocet, the brand name versions of the pain medication propoxyphene, are being withdrawn from the market in the United States. Their maker, Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, has agreed to comply with the FDA's request to withdraw the drugs. Generic manufacturers of drugs that contain propoxyphene have also been notified and asked to comply.
Darvon was originally developed by Eli Lilly & Co., and has been on the U.S. market for more than 50 years. Eli Lilly & Co. later developed Darvocet, combining Darvon with acetaminophen. These drugs are commonly prescribed to treat mild to moderate arthritis pain.
There has been talk of taking these drugs off the market for years. Since 1978, the FDA has received two requests to remove propoxyphene from the market. But, until this point, the FDA had concluded that the benefits of propoxyphene for pain relief at recommended doses outweighed the risks. Why the change? A study has now shown that, even at recommended doses, propoxyphene can affect the electrical activity of the heart -- increasing the risk for serious abnormal heart rhythms that can lead to serious side effects, including death.
This news hits close to home for me. I have taken darvocet on a regular basis for over 20 years. It has been the most effective drug in my regimen for pain control. Just as I will need to do, patients who take propoxyphene-containing medications need to contact their doctor to discuss the withdrawal and the need to switch to another medication for pain management. Patients are being advised not to stop the drug without discussing how to do so with their doctor.
If there is any bit of good news -- reportedly, the changes to the heart's electrical activity are not cumulative. Once long-time users stop taking propoyphene, the risk is over. Read the FDA Press Release about the withdrawal of propoxyphene.
Source : arthritis.about.com
Darvon was originally developed by Eli Lilly & Co., and has been on the U.S. market for more than 50 years. Eli Lilly & Co. later developed Darvocet, combining Darvon with acetaminophen. These drugs are commonly prescribed to treat mild to moderate arthritis pain.
There has been talk of taking these drugs off the market for years. Since 1978, the FDA has received two requests to remove propoxyphene from the market. But, until this point, the FDA had concluded that the benefits of propoxyphene for pain relief at recommended doses outweighed the risks. Why the change? A study has now shown that, even at recommended doses, propoxyphene can affect the electrical activity of the heart -- increasing the risk for serious abnormal heart rhythms that can lead to serious side effects, including death.
This news hits close to home for me. I have taken darvocet on a regular basis for over 20 years. It has been the most effective drug in my regimen for pain control. Just as I will need to do, patients who take propoxyphene-containing medications need to contact their doctor to discuss the withdrawal and the need to switch to another medication for pain management. Patients are being advised not to stop the drug without discussing how to do so with their doctor.
If there is any bit of good news -- reportedly, the changes to the heart's electrical activity are not cumulative. Once long-time users stop taking propoyphene, the risk is over. Read the FDA Press Release about the withdrawal of propoxyphene.
Source : arthritis.about.com
