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As a nurse, I can’t recall the last time I gave Darvon to a patient – I know it had to have been quite a while ago.
According to this article, FDA Panel Recommends Ban On Darvon, "A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel voted 14-12 to recommend withdrawing Darvon after a daylong hearing examining its risks and benefits. The FDA is not required to follow the recommendations of its advisers, but often does so."
What is Darvon? According to Wikipedia, Darvon (dextropropoxyphene) is a narcotic (opioid, controlled drug) used to help relieve moderate pain and relieve coughing, much like codeine does. It’s also been prescribed for restless legs syndrome.
According to the WBTZ article, it’s still a popular medication and is even among the top 25 most commonly prescribed medications. The United Kingdom, however, banned Darvon in 2005. The FDA panel reviewed claims that Darvon isn’t very effective in relieving pain and has a high potential for abuse.
Have you used Darvon? What do you think?
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Tags: darvon, dextrophropoxyphene, narcotics, opioids, darvon banned
As a clinical psychologist I have evaluated pain/injury patients and gathered histories on their medications for many years. I have rarely seen Darvon or Darvocet used in moderate to serious cases. Recall of the drug at this point is highly questionable in the light of its long history and considering the more potent drugs being used and abused.
Arthritis patients have used this with good effect. Also, some migraineurs will use Darvocet as a first-line medication before resorting to triptans, which have other dangers.
Often having to refer people for medication, I am more likely to speak with the prescribing physician and ask that they start as low as possible, then work up based on feedback I receive. In almost 30 years, I have only encountered 1 case of addiction, never have seen anyone with an adverse reaction and never enountered a suicide using Darvon or a compound.
Pain patients, particularly with CRPS, are prescribed very potent medications which still may not help. In some cases, lidocaine injections are used or spinal cord stimulators.
Virtually every pain medication has an abuse potential. Why, after so many years, is this now occurring?
This drug is essential to those with arthritis and other constant pain who don’t want to move to Percoset or the like. Millions will be driven to stronger medications if Darvocet is banned..or they will suffer. A vote of 14-12 is hardly a mandate. Let’s stop this move before it gains momentum!
IMO, the sooner they ban Darvon and its ineffective nasty twin, Darvocet, the better. The one time I was given Darvon, I awoke four days later from what I can only assume was an allergy-induced coma. At the time I was told that this was a fairly common reaction, and it is less common now that Darvon is so infrequently prescribed. My late M-I-L was prescribed Darvocet in huge quantities, and although she had faith in it, I noticed few analgesic qualities to the drug. There are safer and more effective medications available to the public these days, leaving little reason for Darvon to remain legal. If it is easily misused, as the FDA claims, then I feel that there is even more reason to ban the drug. I would only advocate keeping the drug on a very limited basis if there are people for whom other pain medications are ineffective. When the FDA holds public hearings on banning Darvon, any such people are sure to come forward.