Darvocet, the Deadly Painkiller

On November 19, 2010 Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals Inc. the manufacturers of Darvon and Darvocet, the brand name version of the prescription pain medication propoxyphene, agreed to recall the medicine from the US market at the request of the FDA. The FDA sought the removal of propoxyphene after receiving new data showing that the medicine puts individuals at a higher risk of possibly extreme or even fatal heart rhythm, one of the many deadly side effects of Darcovet. The FDA is notifying health care professionals to discontinue prescribing propoxyphene to their patients, and patients who are currently using the medication to get in touch with their health care professional as soon as possible to talk about switching to a different pain management treatment.


Known for the palliative, pain reduction properties found in opiates, Darvocet is comprised of propoxyphene hydrochloride and acetaminophen, a narcotic compound used for pain relief. The addition of acetaminophen, commonly referred to as Tylenol, propoxyphene boosts the ability to blunt the pain sensors in the brain. The combination of the two chemicals create a potent drug, sold as Darvocet and Darvon, is an thorough painkiller that has the capacity for addiction and abuse in a short period of time. Darvocet overdose and addiction are highly common among the painkiller users.

Following a hearing in March, a panel of federal judges has decided not to make a decision about whether to consolidate all federal Darvocet lawsuits as part of an MDL, or multidistrict litigation. A decision has been deferred until further arguments are heard at a hearing in July 2011. Since most of the defendants have not had an opportunity to express their views on the merits of centralizing the litigation as part of an MDL, the Panel has scheduled additional arguments to be heard at their hearing session on July 28, 2011, which will be held at the Phillip Burton U.S. Courthouse in San Francisco, California.