The FDA has officially made the recommendation that Darvocet be pulled off the market. The maker of the drug has complied. Abnormal heart rhythms are brought on by the drug. Many times, these abnormal rhythms are dangerous. Doctors are told to quit prescribing Darvocet, though the recommendation also advised individuals with the prescription to continue taking it.
Darvocet pulled off the market
In cooperation with the FDA, the maker of Darvocet and Darvon has removed the product from the market. Irregular heart rhythms can be caused by Propoxyphene which is an active ingredient in Darvocet. The European Union and United Kingdom drug agencies began in 2005 taking drugs off the market. These were all like Darvocet in that they had propoxyphene in them. Pharmacists have been instructed to immediately stop filling prescriptions, and doctors are to stop writing prescriptions for Darvocet.
Darvocet starting to be a concern in 2009
In 1957, the FDA approved the active ingredient in Darvocet. Safety questions have followed the drug for years, and in January of 2006, an FDA panel recommended its removal from the market. The FDA wanted to study the drug more causing this recommendation to be rejected. Drugmaker Lilly sponsored studies dating back as far as 31 years ago that stated, “cardiac conduction depression might be a factor in some of the (human) cardiac toxicities associated with propoxyphene overdose.”
Numbers associated with the Darvocet ban
The ban on Darvocet has brought some concerns out that people have. The FDA drug approval and review procedure is being questioned. In just the last two years, about 120 million prescriptions of Darvocet or propoxyphene have been filled. Over $8 billion in Darvocet had been sold since a prescription costs about $70. It is recommended by the FDA that anybody at the moment taking Darvocet meet with a health care provider about it. Continue taking the drug until after you've spoken with your doctor.
Citations
LA Times
latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/sc-dc-1120-fda-darvon-web-20101119,0,6525838.story
Wall Street Journal
online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704170404575624580619320348.html
YubaNet
yubanet.com/opinions/Dr-Sidney-Wolfe-Delayed-FDA-Removal-of-Painkiller-Propoxyphene-Darvon-Darvocet-From-U-S-Market-Has-Cost-More-Than-1-000-U-S-Lives.php
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