Did you or a loved one take Darvon/Darvocet and suffer from an irregular heartbeat, cardiac arrhythmia, death, or any form of cardiac emergency?

On November 19, 2010, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) finally issued a recall of the popular painkillers Darvon and Darvocet. The FDA panel concluded that all painkillers that contain propoxyphene pose an unreasonable risk to consumers. The FDA has instructed Xanodyne, the manufacturer of Darvon and Darvocet, to stop selling the drug. Although the FDA expected generic makers of Darvon and Darvocet to follow suit, some of these generics are still on the market.

Scientific studies have revealed that even when Darvon or Darvocet are taken at their prescribed dosages, they can significantly alter the electrical activity of the heart. This can result in abnormal heart rhythms, known as cardiac arrhythmias, heart attack, and sudden death. Darvon and Darvocet have also been linked to gastrointestinal dysfunction, psychiatric disorders, addiction, and accidental death.

On January 30, 2009, an advisory committee to the FDA studied all drugs containing propoxyphene and recommended the FDA ban the drugs. The FDA committee advised the FDA that Darvon and Darvocet had been linked to thousands of deaths and that its risks outweighed any benefits the drugs had for the treatment of mild to moderate pain. However, the FDA ignored the advice of its own committee and instead instructed the manufacturer to issue a stronger warning about the drugs' side effects.

Please contact Van Wey Law if you or a loved one has suffered any cardiac problems, including:

Irregular heart beat or cardiac arrhythmia
Heart attack
Sudden death

About Darvon/Propoxyphene

Darvon was first approved for sale in the United States in 1957. This over 50 year old drug, despite its poor painkilling qualities, dependence potential, and toxicity, continues to be one of the most widely prescribed drugs in this country. An estimated 20 million people were prescribed Darvon or one of its generic equivalents. Darvon is also sometimes combined with a dose of acetaminophen and marketed under the name Darvocet.

Darvon or propoxyphene has been associated with over 2,000 reported accidental deaths in the United States since 1981. A large proportion of these deaths occur because most of the drug is converted into a metabolite that is highly toxic to the heart and lasts longer in the body than the original compound, resulting in cardiac depression. Adverse cardiac events associated with Darvon include an interruption of the heart's transmission of electrical impulses, slowed heartbeats, and a decreased ability of the heart to contract properly.

Fatalities within the first hour of over-dosage are not uncommon. Toxicity develops with this drug at only slightly above the recommended dose. Propoxyphene is mentioned as one of the top ten drugs found in people's systems during autopsies.

Propoxyphene is still being sold as a generic drug. The following is a list of generic drugs containing propoxyphene:

Balacet
Dolene
E-Lor
Genagesic
PC-Cap
Propacet
SK-65
Trycet
Wygesic

Darvon Side Effects

Van Wey Law is pursuing the following types of serious, life-threatening side effects:

Irregular heartbeat
Cardiac emergency
Death

If you or a loved one has taken Darvon, Darvocet, or Propoxyphene and suffered from irregular heartbeat, cardiac arrhythmia, heart attack, death, or any form of cardiac emergency, you should contact us immediately. You may be entitled to compensation.

Learn Your Legal Rights

If you or someone you know has taken these medications and has suffered injury, side effects, or death, contact a drug claim lawyer at Van Wey Law immediately to learn about and protect your legal rights.

To request a free consultation, Contact Us or call us toll free at (800)489-5082.

Don't hesitate to contact Kay Van Wey at (800)489-5082 for a free, no obligation consultation.

Van Wey Law serves:

The entire state of Texas, including Dallas, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Fort Worth, Austin, Houston, and San Antonio

The entire state of Oklahoma, including Tulsa and Oklahoma City

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