Darvocet Arrhythmia Proves Fatal

The once-popular painkiller Darvocet has been linked to heart problems in many patients and a resulting series of Darvocet lawsuits. The drug, which has since been pulled from the market, has been connected to pulmonary issues such as cardiac arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, and other serious issues. In some cases, Darvocet-related arrhythmia can be fatal.






The variety of cardiac problems associated with Darvocet can be confusing for many patients. Arrhythmia is a term that encompasses many heart problems that can be experienced by Darvocet users, including ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and Torsade de Pointes. The most extreme example of Darvocet arrhythmia is ventricular tachycardia, which can cause cardiac arrest and death even in patients without a history of heart problems or heart disease. Ventricular tachycardia is a rapid heart rhythm in the ventricles, or lower chambers, of the heart. It can prevent the heart’s chambers from filling with enough blood.

Ventricular fibrillation can also be fatal in many cases. Specifically in this case, ventricles spasm and prevents blood from being adequately sent to the body. In many, if not most cases, this condition is fatal. Immediate medical treatment, including CPR and defibrillation, are often necessary in order for the patient to survive.

Torsade de Pointes is a term that many patients are likely to be unfamiliar with but is a third side effect of Darvocet encompassed by the term “Darvocet arrhythmia”. It refers to the “twisting of the points” on an electrocardiogram. This form of arrhythmia is marked by long periods of time which the heart needs to retract and recover, and can cause sudden cardiac failure in any patient, regardless of their medical history or age.

There is a definitive link between Darvocet and heart arrhythmia, which has contributed not only to the number of lawsuits associated with the propoxyphene painkiller but to the drug’s withdrawal from pharmaceuticals markets in the United States, Europe, and the United Kingdom. However, defendants will likely try to link a patient’s medical history with the side effects of Darvocet they have experienced, meaning patients with medical histories free of pulmonary issues are more likely to win their Darvocet cases.