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Darvocet for Pain -- Med is being withdrawn from market

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Posted 11/19/2010 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
The prescription pain meds Darvocet and Darvon, along with their generic form (propoxyphene) are being withdrawn by their manufacturer at the request of the FDA. There is a story posted on cnn.news in regard to the painkillers.

It says that doctors should no longer prescribe them, but that before patients quit taking them they should contact their health-care providers.

The reason for them being pulled is because the benefits no longer outweigh some potential, possibly fatal, risks for heart-rhythm abnormalities.



I took Darvocet for many years for migraines, but then they became ineffective and I got bumped up to other pain relievers. I wasn't sure if anyone here was taking Darvocet, but the story says to contact your doctor immediately if you are.
Posted 11/19/2010 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
I take it, in fact, it was only recently that it was prescribed, and it was like pulling teeth to get it.  Now I'm afraid that I won't have an alternative.  I liked it because I could take it and still function normally.  It takes just enough of the edge off to where I won't bite someones head off because I hurt!

Posted 11/19/2010 11:44 PM (GMT 0)
Now this really scares me! This is my husband's compounded drug for pain and my pain pill for when my pain is out of control. smhair
Posted 11/20/2010 12:10 AM (GMT 0)
Mine too! Just picked up a refill yesterday, in fact. I've been taking it for about 20 years....used to be not very often, but now I need to take several a week. I like it better than Vicodin because, as Ntish said, its effects are lighter, I don't feel so doped up. The cynic in me wonders if it's because the pharmaceutical companies can't make a killing off of it anymore. Oh well, it doesn't matter why, we'll have to find something else.

I have had issues with irregular heartbeat, but not just when I've taken Darvocet.

Debbie
Posted 11/20/2010 1:01 AM (GMT 0)
I was getting tolerant to Vicodin, so I've gone back to tramadol. I get seriously nauseated from Darvocet-N.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/732887?sssdmh=dm1.649553&src=nl_newsalert&uac=113325DT
Posted 11/20/2010 1:27 AM (GMT 0)
No worries, ladies. Norco is a good replacement.
Posted 11/20/2010 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
I did a google search on this drug and did find something from 2009 mentioning the removal of the drug.

There are just too many do gooders out there and the drug is one of the least powerful ones out there so it wouldn't be something a drug seeker would even want. It didn't really work for me but I am glad that it works for others
Posted 11/20/2010 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
For those of you who haven't tried tramadol paired with advil, give it a shot before you give up on it. I've tried tramadol on it's own. I could take 100mg at a pop and not feel any pain relief at all. If I take even a half tablet (25mg) of tramadol with 200mg advil, I get pretty good relief from that and it lasts for hours. On REALLY bad days where I can hardly walk, My dr said it was OK to take as much as 100mg tramadol with 600mg advil up to 4 times a day. I've NEVER done that but had the option if I needed. I don't have to take the tramadol or advil right now cuz the lyrica/cymbalta combo is working wonders for now. I dont' want to take tramadol as I don't want to risk seritonin syndrome. Dr said I was OK to do so since I'm on such a low dose but I DON'T NEED IT :-D!!! (Sorry, feel like I kid again right now!!). Prayers for all of you affected with the darvocet being withdrawn. I am terrified that one of my staples will be pulled. YIKES!!
Posted 11/20/2010 4:51 AM (GMT 0)
I have some tramadol.............it KNOCKS me flat on the bed for a good 10 hours. It is my ultimate pain killer.

I can't take advil type drugs and most others really knock me out. The Davocet allowed me to be out of pain and continue to conscience and able to work in the kitchen for meals.

Hopefully my dr. will have some ideas on what we can do.

My husband takes it every 3 hours for his fibro pain. I do not know what he will do at all since he has to have things compounded. I guess I will be calling our PCP on MOnday since hubby's meds are due for refill.
Posted 11/20/2010 5:18 AM (GMT 0)
well let's have party.
I just got relief also from it I will google it when I get off here to see when this will take effect. wonder why they are pickin on darvicot, why not vicodin (that stuff can make me puke) oh well thanks for the thumbs up!
Posted 11/20/2010 1:22 PM (GMT 0)
Here is the article about Darvocet and Darvon, in case you are interested.  I used Darvocet when I had major surgery and I liked it too because I didn't have side affects with it.  It's really a shame because it's been on the market since 1956!  I never heard of people having heart problems with it.  It seems that if a handful of people have a reaction to a medication, the FDA pulls the medication...probably because of all these lawyers salivating to get some business. 

 

 http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2010/11/drugmakers-pull-painkillers-darvon-darvocet-from-market.html

 

Sherrine

Posted 11/21/2010 3:33 AM (GMT 0)
I've taken Darvon, Tramadol, Vicodin and Oxycontin and not only do they NOT knock me out, I can't even tell I've taken anything. Same thing with NSAIDS. I don't think there's anywhere else for me to turn. Diane
Posted 11/21/2010 5:48 AM (GMT 0)
Well, I'm going to keep taking my Darvocet when I need it until it's gone, unless my doctor tells me differently. The article I read said something like 10 people out of 100,000 had this heartbeat side-effect, as opposed to 8 with Vicodin and 6 with Tramadol (I may have the numbers a bit confused, but I know the 10, 8, and 6 part is right.) Big difference! I guess they better yank them all....?

I'm sorry you haven't found anything that helps, Diane. Don't give up, there's got to be something.

Debbie
Posted 11/22/2010 11:06 PM (GMT 0)

Well, I just got off the phone with my pain management doc.   I had asked if there was something comparable to Darvocet, and she said the only thing was Vicodin, and she didn't feel as if I needed anything that strong.  I asked if I could get that and cut it in half, and she said no.  She said she would put me on Syvella, and I once again told her no.  I don't want to take anything every day because I don't need something every day, especially when it is an anti-depressant.  I want to be in control, and not the medication.

I can't go to my other doctors becasue I went to the pain management specialist without their concent.  Anything now will seem like doctor shopping. 

If I had cancer, I'd get pain meds.  But I have Fibro.  Another reason I tell people I have RA instead of what I really have!

Posted 11/23/2010 3:02 AM (GMT 0)
Ooh, that burns me! Here you were doing fine, and just want to replace what you already had, and your doctor nixes it. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense. You'd think she could respect your not wanting to take something every day.

Debbie
Posted 11/23/2010 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
What really erks me is that this is a pain management doctor!  That is their job, to ease their patient's pain.

Posted 11/23/2010 4:47 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, it's maddening. It makes you wonder exactly who they're really trying to help!
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