Symptoms of Darvocet Overdose

Darvocet® (propoxyphene/acetaminophen) is a prescription pain reliever that contains a narcotic. As with any medication, it is possible to take too much Darvocet.
 
Potential symptoms of Darvocet overdose include difficulty breathing, severe drowsiness, an irregular heart rhythm, and seizures. Additionally, the acetaminophen component of the medication may cause problems such as liver failure, yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice), and low blood sugar.
 
Early treatment after an overdose of Darvocet is essential. If the overdose was recent, a healthcare provider may "pump" the stomach, induce vomiting, or administer activated charcoal to prevent the body from absorbing Darvocet. A medication called N-acetylcysteine (Acetadote®, Mucomyst®) is extremely important for the treatment of an acetaminophen overdose, and can help prevent liver damage due to this component of Darvocet. An antidote (naloxone or Narcan®) may be administered to counteract overdose effects of the propoxyphene component of Darvocet.
 
(Click Darvocet Overdose to learn more about the possible symptoms of Darvocet overdose, to find out if an overdose can be lethal, and for more information about various treatment options.)
 
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;