The popular, yet controversial, painkillers Darvon and Darvocet have been pulled from the market at the request of the FDA. New evidence has linked propoxyphene, the active ingredient in Darvon, Darvocet and their generic counterparts, with increased risk of serious, potentially fatal heart problems.
The FDA has determined that the drugs’ benefits do not outweigh the serious risks associated with the medications’ side effects, which include heart rhythm abnormalities. Even when taken at recommended doses by healthy patients, the propoxyphene in Darvon and Darvocet can still cause changes in the electrical activity of the heart that can cause serious problems, including sudden death.
Darvon was first introduced to the market. However, concerns over the drug’s serious side effects led consumer group, Public Citizen, to petition the FDA to remove the drug from the market. Darvon and Darvocet have been banned in the UK since 2005, and were banned in Europe over a year ago. Public Citizen estimates that as many as 1,000-2,000 US deaths have been linked to Darvon and/or Darvocet since the drugs were banned in England over 6 years ago.
Our drug injury lawyers know firsthand the pain and suffering that can be caused by unsafe pharmaceuticals. Our firm represented hundreds of Vioxx victims, and our senior partner, Attorneys, played a central role in the national litigation against Merck. We’ve been working hard for victims of dangerous drugs for nearly thirty years, and are currently investigating claims on behalf of victims of Darvon, Darvocet and generic propoxyphene painkillers.
