Darvocet Heart Arrhythmia Risk Faced by Millions Over the Decades

Darvocet combines Darvon (propoxyphene) and Tylenol (acetaminophen), and it was one of the most popular painkillers prescribed in the United States before it was recalled.  However, the FDA determined that the risk of serious injury or Darvocet death outweigh any potential benefit it may provide when compared to the use of over-the-counter painkillers. Most argue, now, that the Darvon and Darvocet recall came decades too late for thousands of people who suffered and died due to this drug. In 1957 the FDA approved propoxyphene ,

Kentucky MDL Establishes Conference to Structure Litigation

All Darvon lawsuits and Darvocet lawsuits filed in federal district courts throughout the United States by users who suffered heart rhythm problems will be consolidated for pretrial proceedings as part of a multidistrict litigation, or MDL, which will be centralized in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. All of the lawsuits over Darvocet and Darvon allege that the drug makers failed to adequately warn consumers or the medical community about the risk of serious and potentially fatal heart rhythm problems, such as Darvocet heart arrhythmia. Xanodyne and other defendant drug makers opposed consolidation of the litigation, arguing that much of the evidence and discovery in the cases will focus on the individual health of each plaintiff.

Long History of Heart Arrhythmia and Darvocet

Popular painkillers containing propoxyphene, which include Darvocet, Darvon and generic equivalents, were removed from the market in November 2010 after it was confirmed that the risk of serious and potentially life-threatening heart side effects of Darvocet and other propoxyphene drugs outweigh the benefits provided by the medications. Propoxyphene is the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Darvon, Darvocet and dozens of generic versions of those drugs, including variations such as Darvocet N100, Darvocet N50, Davon-N and Compound 65. The medications have been used to relieve pain from fractures, major surgery, dental surgery and pain related to arthritis, joint pain and headaches. Research has confirmed that Darvon and Darvocet affect the heart by acting as a local anesthetic, potentially causing irregular heartbeats. As a result of these Darvocet and Darvon heart problems, individuals could suffer: Darvocet heart arrhythmia, cardiac arrest and myocardial infarction.

High Rate of Darvocet Overdose

Darvon and Darvocet, before their 2010 ban, were among the most popular prescription painkillers on the pharmaceuticals market. The relatively weak painkillers were pulled after it became clear that the active ingredient, propoxyphene, metabolizes in the human body to a metabolite known as norporpoxyphene, which interferes with the electrical activity of the heart even in small doses. The United States was late on the ban,which is leading to many victims filing Darvocet lawsuits, however - the United Kingdom banned propoxyphene products in 2009, while it was banned in the European Union in 2005.

Since 2005 around 1,000-2,000 people lost their lives because of propoxyphene overdoses and fatalities, which are considered side effects of Darvocet, according to

Plaintiffs Seek for Darvocet Cases to Be Centralized

Last December, Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals agreed to stop selling Darvocet in the U.S. after the evidence of cardiac injuries from Darvocet reached critical mass. Darvocet lawsuits are now being filed in massive numbers. A week ago, in San Francisco, Plaintiffs' Darvocet lawyers argued that all of the federal Darvocet cases should be centralized in an MDL which is similar to, but not really, a class action lawsuit. Kristine Esposito filed a lawsuit against Xanodyne shortly after the Darvocet recall in December in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Two other plaintiffs have filed briefs in support of consolidation, but suggesting that the cases be consolidated in either the Eastern District of Louisiana or Western District of Louisiana.

Generic Darvocet Lawsuits Could Have Problems

Although many people are aware of the serious side effects of Darvocet and Darvon,  the once-popular propoxyphene-based painkillers, most do not consider that the same side effects manifest in patients who are taking generic versions of the same drug. So, do these patients have the same legal rights as Darvon and Darvocet patients? According to a recent Supreme Court decision, maybe not.

            The case Pliva Inc. v. Mensing was recently decided by the Supreme Court and stated that makers of generic drugs are not responsible for the side effects they cause, as long as they use warning labels that exactly match those on the original medication. This is unfortunate for patients who have experienced adverse side effects from generic forms of propoxyphene painkillers, because their legal options are limited, especially in state courts. In federal courts, it may be possible for a plaintiff to find a way to take legal action against a manufacturer of generic medications, although it could be difficult. Regardless, a Darvocet lawyer is aware of

Darvocet Heart Problems Lead to Recall

Propoxyphene products have been banned nationwide due to the Darvocet side effects, which have claimed the lives of dozens of users. Many medical experts have expressed relief at the ban, which could potentially have spared hundreds of lives – but drugs like Darvon and Darvocet, affected by the ban, have already been on the market for more than half a century. Studies recently confirmed that propoxyphene drugs like Darvocet can cause serious heart problems, including heart arrhythmia, even for patients who are taking recommended doses of the prescription painkiller.