In November 2010, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) withdrew all medications that contain propoxyphene from the market. It has been determined that the risks of propoxyphene outweigh the possible benefits. In particular, the FDA was concerned about the drug's ability to cause serious changes in the heart rhythm, even at normal doses. Pharmacies will no longer sell this medication, and people who take it should stop and ask their healthcare provider for a more suitable pain medication.
A healthcare provider may prescribe Darvon
® (
propoxyphene hydrochloride) to help relieve mild to moderate pain in adults. Many people are curious about how Darvon compares to Vicodin
® (
hydrocodone/APAP), another common pain reliever.
When looking at Vicodin vs. Darvon, it's important to understand that there are several similarities and differences. Both medications are used to relieve pain. Darvon is designed for use in treating mild to moderate pain. Vicodin, on the other hand, is approved for moderate to moderately severe pain. Both pain relievers can be used to treat both short-term and long-term pain.
Darvon can be useful in certain individuals, such as for people who cannot take
acetaminophen (as many narcotics, including Vicodin, come in combination with acetaminophen). However, Darvon is not considered as "strong" as most other narcotic pain relievers (such as Vicodin) and is particularly dangerous in the cases of overdose. As a result, Darvon is not usually the "first choice" of pain medication in most situations.
(Click Darvon and Vicodin for more information on Darvon vs. Vicodin, including details on how these medications help relieve pain and important differences between the two pain relievers.)
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