South Carolina Personal Injury Lawyers

Darvocet, a prescription painkiller was recalled by the FDA in 2010 for the drug’s association with dangerous and fatal heart rhythm problems. The side effects of Darvocet were in question for years prior to the FDA’s recall.

Darvocet is a combination of propoxyphene and acetaminophen. According to the FDA, Propoxyphene, an opioid used to treat mild to moderate pain, was used by 10 million people in 2009. Most of those patients received Darvocet.

Despite reported Darvocet side effects and other propoxyphene products, the initial drug warnings before the recall only required a new boxed warning be added to the drug label to alert patients and health care professionals of the risk of a fatal overdose.

However, the new warning label did not include mention of heart rhythm problems and a new study was conducted to asssess unanswered questions about the effects of propoxyphene on the heart.

The study found that propoxyphene causes significant changes to the electrical activity of the heart, even when taking the recommended dosage. These changes can increase the risk for abnormal rhythmic activity of the heart, which have been linked to serious side effects, including sudden death.

The FDA posted on it’s website indicating that the agency said it is not possible to monitor for or mitigate the risk of fatal heart rhythm problems that might occur even when taking recommended doses. The study’s findings prompted the FDA to ask that Darvocet, along with Darvon, be withdrawn from the market in 2010, due to these potentially fatal side effects.

The FDA also asked the manufacturers to remove all generic propoxyphene-containing products from the market as well. Doctors were then urged to stop prescribing Darvocet while patients were advised to continue using it until speaking with their medical doctors to arrange for a different medication.

If you or someone you know has been harmed from using Darvocet, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact our personal injury lawyers today at the Strom Law Firm, LLC and see how we can help to protect your rights.