Darvocet and Darvon Recall

Orlando, Florida

The FDA announced in November 2010 that the widely used prescription painkiller drugs Darvocet and Darvon were being recalled. Each drug contains propocyphene and Darvocet contains acetominaphen. According to the FDA, the benefits attached to the painkillers do not outweigh their risks, which are serious and life-threatening. In addition to the name brand drugs, the FDA also announced that the generic versions were going to be pulled from the market.

Doctors were told to stop prescribing Darvocet and Darvon immediately. Patients were instructed to consult their physicians about switching to an alternative that is safer.

Risks of Darvocet and Darvon

Darvon was originally approved for treating post-operative pain over 50 years ago. It has been one of the most popular prescription painkillers in the world since 1957 with literally tens of millions of people taking it.

However, evidence presented over several decades shows that Darvocet and Darvon pose a significant and real danger to patients. In 1978, Public Citizen, a consumer watchdog group, submitted findings to the FDA to petition for the recall of the drugs due to an increased risk of suicidal tendencies, as well as toxins building up in the heart. In addition to suicidal thoughts and toxic buildup, both Darvocet and Darvon are highly addictive. If this wasn’t enough, data showed propoxyphene to be only slightly more effective than acetaminophen in reducing pain.

It is believed that propoxyphene has resulted in over 2100 deaths since those first early findings. The main cause for these wrongful deaths has been heart rhythm anomalies.

Darvocet and Darvon Recall History

Although the FDA waited until 2010 to pull Darvocet and Darvon from the market, the U.K. pulled the drugs in 2005. After the U.K. announced their recall, Public Citizen again petitioned the FDA in 2006. In 2008, they filed a lawsuit against the FDA over its failure to act on the petition. An agency advisory panel then conducted additional studies into the safety of Darvocet and Darvon. Based on the strength of the evidence, the panel voted to recall the painkillers.

Sadly, had the FDA acted on the evidence earlier, many lives may have been saved.

Darvocet and Darvon Attorneys

Darvon and Darvocet have been linked to heart attacks, heart failure, and incidents of sudden cardiac death in hundreds of cases. The Orlando, Florida defective drug lawyers at Colling, Gilbert, Wright & Carter is currently accepting claims for those who have been injured by Darvocet and Darvon. We can help you get the compensation and justice you deserve.

Please contact the experienced product liabilty attorneys at Colling, Gilbert, Wright & Carter to find out about more about how we can help you with your Darvocet or Darvon injury claim. We serve clients in the Orlando, Florida area.