Darvon Recall and Darvocet Recall: Lawyers Reviewing Lawsuits

Austin Kirk

By Austin Kirk
Posted November 22, 2010

ADD YOUR COMMENTS 33

On Friday, the FDA finally decided to issue a Darvon recall and Darvocet recall after determining that all painkillers that contain propxyphene pose an unreasonable risk to consumers. The product liability lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are reviewing potential Darvon lawsuits and Darvocet lawsuits for individuals who have experienced serious or fatal injuries as a result of these medications.

>>REVIEW A POTENTIAL DARVON OR DARVOCET RECALL LAWSUIT<<

Darvon (propxyphene) was first introduced in 1957 as a mild pain reliever. Darvocet was introduced as a combination drug that contained both propxyphene and acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol. At the time of the recall, Darvocet was one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the United States.

Although experts have been indicating for years that a recall of Darvon and Darvocet should be issued, the medications were sold to millions of Americans without adequate warning about the risk of injury or death. Individuals may be entitled to compensation through a Darvon recall lawsuit or Darvocet recall lawsuit if they have suffered any of the following injuries:

  • Heart Arrythmia
  • Heart Attack
  • Suicide
  • Overdose
  • Sudden Death

We first wrote about the potential risk of problems from Darvon and Darvocet side effects in June 2008, when the consumer watchdog group Public Citizen filed a lawsuit against the FDA as a result of their failure to act on a petition filed in 2006 to remove the painkillers from the market. Public Citizen requested that the dangerous painkillers be phased off of the market, citing more than 2,000 accidental deaths linked to the medications since 1981. In addition, it is a relatively weak painkiller that is no more effective than many over-the-counter painkillers.

In February 2009, we wrote about an FDA Advisory Panel meeting convened to review the risk of Darvon and Darvocet death. Although experts determined that the risks associated with side effects of Darvocet and Darvon outweigh the potential benefits, the FDA disregarded the recommendation of their advisory panel and decided not to issue a Darvon and Darvocet recall at that time.

Nearly two years later, on November 17, 2010, the FDA determined that new clinical data tipped the scales in favor of a recall, after finding that there is a risk of heart arrythmia from Darvocet and Darvon.

DARVON LAWYERS AND DARVOCET LAWYERS

Although it appears that the FDA failed to promptly protect consumers from these dangerous painkillers, ultimate responsibility falls on the drug makers, who placed their desire for profits ahead of consumer safety by continuing to sell the medications without adequate warnings about the Darvon and Darvocet risks.

To review a potential claim for yourself, a friend or family member with our Darvon and Darvocet lawyers, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

33 Comments • Add Your Comments

  • K Padget says:

    This makes me SICK! I have bipolar disorder, and this was the only painkiller I’ve found that kills the pain and does NOT have a negative effect on my ability to cope with the disorder. Has anyone else ever encountered problems with some painkillers & is now left without any remedy for REAL PAIN? Is there any other medication that is formulated like darvocet but does not cause the heart problems? This is terrible.

    Posted on November 22, 2010 at 5:11 pm

  • Gregory says:

    I dont blame my doctor really he always takes very good care of me however I do blame those whos greed made the meds & has caused others to suffer or even worse, DIE!!!!

    Posted on November 23, 2010 at 8:19 am

  • susan says:

    I have taken darvocet off and on for years.Did have a heartattact in 1998.I now am taking propoxyphene 650 mg every 4 hours as needed for pain for the last 4 years.I have heart palpations from time to time.Is this a side effect also?

    Posted on November 29, 2010 at 8:37 pm

  • Joan says:

    I have been taking Darvocet for years, I called my pharmacy for a refill and was shocked when I heard of a recall, sure any one thing that a person decides to abuse is not good, but, clearly, it states that you should not discontinue this drug, how many lawsuits might you have when people are trying to withdraw on a drug that they have used for years, what does the FDA think about this? I have always prided myself in taking Darvocet instead of strong pain pills and it has helped me to get thru some very long days and nights if needed, I can’t even imagine calling my Drs. office in the a.m. and actually getting something else called in, it will probably be a mad house! If this medicine is taken properly, you will not! probably find a leg to stand on, people can abuse anything if they really want to, let the people decide who have taken this rx for pain and done well with it, it is o.k. for people who are in pain, knows the warnings of this drug, let the people decide who are in pain and without something now, this is a nightmare for a lot of people who are in pain and they cannot get a drug to help them for it! This is the craziest thing I have ever heard of, so may all of the voting panel suffer and may lawsuits be flying high because of withdrawal symptioms, sick society we live in

    Posted on November 29, 2010 at 9:03 pm

  • Robin says:

    I have taken darvocet most of my life. I was diagnosed with heart murmurs when I was 21 and the doctor’s do not know what may have caused it. My heart valves do not close properly in both chambers of my heart. Could this be a reason for what is wrong with my heart? Can anyone help me with this question?

    Posted on November 29, 2010 at 11:30 pm

  • Carole says:

    There are those of us wo NEED and can only take Darvocet….knowing you don’t care…see if you can find a small place in your heart to help us find an attorney who will hwlp us fight to get it back.

    Posted on December 1, 2010 at 4:52 pm

  • Mary says:

    I have taken darvon 65 for 12 years now 2 tab with meals for ulcertive colitus and neropathey, what can i take now that will do the same and not knock me out. and what am i suppose to do about the withdraw issue when i run out?

    Posted on December 2, 2010 at 4:01 pm

  • sheila says:

    I have taken darvocet for nearly four years. I was shocked and nervous at the same time when the pharmacist informed me I couldn’t get my RX refilled because of the recall. I have fibromyalgia, migrianes and back pain. My DR won’t respond to my phone calls for a substitute medication. I would rather have the darvocet right now. The attorneys have come out of woodwork seeking lawsuits, but unless you’ve had a heart attack or died, the only thing we get is pain and frustrastion.

    Posted on December 2, 2010 at 6:26 pm

  • Philip says:

    I was recently diagnosed with chronic pain and was prescribed darvocet, which I was using two 100/650 every 4-5 hours and was having slight success with the treatment until I ran out and was unable to refill the day after the recall, I was shocked that the FDA would not give an advanced notice so patients could find an alternitive instead of having to suddendly stop taking the drug and be FORCED to SUFFER from immediate withdrawls and accomponied mental distress!

    Posted on December 2, 2010 at 9:00 pm

  • Susan says:

    I have taken darvocet for over 2 years. It is the only pain reliever that has taken the edge of my back, neck and hip pain & fibromyalgia pain, without any negative side effects. I had some palpatation and heart rate issues before I began the Darvocet (seemingly induced by other meds). I take a low dose of bisoprolol for that problem. I am with thousands of other people who have been helped by this drug and now are without a pain reliever that doesn’t cause nausea and other stomach issues. Any person can react to any drug at any time. Should they not be judged by how many people are helped by the drug?

    Posted on December 9, 2010 at 8:25 pm

  • theresa says:

    I was prescribed Darvocet for my backpain on 04/30/10. I have been hospitalized with bad chest pains since then.And I had continued taking the pills 4 times daily for the baseline pain.My best friend came to visit me 12/09/2010 and seen I was in bad pain. I told her I was taking the Darvocet and thats when she told me about this recall. I have been taking them as the doctor stated due to my pain. I am in bad shape…what am I suppose to do? I can’t hardly stand straight up.

    Posted on December 10, 2010 at 8:09 pm

  • pam says:

    it should be up to the person just like smoking. no one knows any one elses pain and what may work for them. i have been on darvon and darvocet for 40 yrs. it takes away not only pain but is also a great aid for depression i have hepatitis c and never have had heart problems taking this.

    Posted on December 11, 2010 at 4:56 pm

  • ann says:

    While I do have empathy for those that have had to quit taking Darvocet (Which I also have for the last 16 years) I really think that the main issue here is not whether you can take this weak pain medication if you want to but rather “Will I or someone else develope Arterial Fib or have a heart attack! Are you listening? Because that alternative is a REAL drag! Buck up! I took the drug for Fibromyalgia, arthritis, spondelothesis and have had relatively no withdrawls. Think about what you are whining about and go to your Doctors for a new medication.

    Posted on December 28, 2010 at 8:23 pm

  • Maria says:

    My mother was on Darvocet for over 20 years at least. She died from a mix of stomach problems, them lead to heart attack. I cant say Darvocet was or wasn’t the cause. I do disagree that they should have gave a notice that it was being recalled so the ones that were taking it could find an alternative. I seen my mother when she had ran out of her medicaton, and was in intense pain, I do feel for everyone that is in that position. I wish you the best.

    Posted on January 1, 2011 at 5:53 pm

  • janice says:

    i took darvocet for a very long time and while doing so my heart started to act up i called it skipping beats but they said that it was adding beats i have lived with this for about 5 years not knowing what did this and the sad thing is they was still giving my dorvocet for my pain and i was taking med to control my heart rate and still do .

    Posted on January 4, 2011 at 6:41 pm

  • kathryn says:

    my husband was on darvocet from 1985 to 1989 due to a accident at work that caused pain to left shoulder, neck and back he was taking 2 darvocett every 4 hours per doctor’s orders when he had a sudden heart attack in february 1998 where we was addmitted to hospital for breathing difficulty a week later test were done that showed two of the arteries in the heart was nearly closed the back part of the heart was dead and the apex was damaged and a blood clot in the lower left ventarl he was air lifted out to columbus univercity hospital where he was put on the heart transplant list he needed a heart fast he recieved his heart four months later then died fwo months after that no history of highblood pressure he was a healthy man of 37 years when he died if the fda had pulled the darvocet drug off the market in the late 1970s he would still be alive and i would not have been a widow raising two young sons on my own how many othere people have lost loved ones due to this drug and the cause of death was overlooked

    Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:44 am

  • Elizabeth says:

    I am allergic to codeine and was prescribed Darvocet prior to and following surgery, in November of 2005, for degenerative disc disease. In November 2008, after an injury sent me to the ER, it was discovered that I have a heart arrythmia. The medication that I take now was prescribed to control my blood pressure and lower my heart rate. I see a cardiologist now just to monitor the arrythmia which to date has not caused trouble as much as worry and concern. Since I had been seen regularly by a doctor during two pregnancies in 1998 and 2004 and no arrythmia was detected, I can’t help but wonder if Darvocet was the culprit.

    Posted on January 8, 2011 at 5:58 pm

  • April says:

    I have been taking Darvacet since around 1997, due to a back injury at which time it was also discovered I have cervical disc disease, that has since progressed, I began having heart palpitations but it was diagnosed as stress related, then in 2006 I suffered a heart attack, I had a heart cath performed and the cardiologist could find no real reason and said I had a spontaneous resolution, also stating “could have been coused from a blood ctot due to medication” but found nothing, I am now off darvacet but still have fear of another unexplained heart attack….

    Posted on January 12, 2011 at 1:09 am

  • Vera says:

    My mother-in-law lost both legs 15 years ago and has been taking Darvocet ever since without any complications. Since it has been recalled
    she has had excruciating pain in both stumps. Her doctor said to take Tylenol Arthritis Strength for pain. It helps some but not enough. Now they are talking about taking it off the market. What are we to do? My mother-in-law is 90 years old. Why should she be in pain day and night. We should have the right to decide for ourselves.

    Posted on January 14, 2011 at 3:01 pm

  • L. J. says:

    I have been taking darvocet for almost 10 years for rupered disks in my neck and lower back..I have never abused it and I don’t think chronic pain people should be punished for others taking to many pills.I have heard people say that darvocet dont help them so they take the strong pain meds. I never wanted to take any strong pills but it looks like I may be forced to.I am very upset over the re-call..I cannot take codene. Just what are we supposed to do now..Go back to living in pain and laying on our heating pads..All meds have risks..I only took 2 a day unless I was having a bad day then I would take 3 as was on my scrip..Thanks alot to who ever.

    Posted on January 19, 2011 at 5:43 am

  • rj says:

    I wouldnt really trade pain for lasting damage to my heart. The issue I’m having right now is this:

    I mean, sure, the results may show that some drugs perform worse than Darvocet, that Darvocet is the lesser evil. However, is that reason enough for Darvocet to get away with it?

    Posted on January 22, 2011 at 3:49 pm

  • Shannon says:

    I feel very sorry for people who need this med and take any other but some of the comments on here make me sick about people thanks to “who ever” my grandfather was a pretty heathy man then came some pain and the doc gave him darvocet in the first few mnts he got hearth pulputations IF I knew it was from the med we would have taken him off of insted the doc was trying to find the source and changeing heart med in the mean time from all the heart pulputations he got blood clots and had a stroke and died from I would like to see how some u felt if it was becuse of one of ur loved ones or how ur family would feel if somthing happend to u!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Posted on January 25, 2011 at 12:41 am

  • ann says:

    I have used darvon and later darvocet for many years for pain due to extremely aggresive osteo arthritis, fybromylgia.About 5yrs ago I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, I was hospitalized to get an iv to bring my heart back to normal.I was put on amorodone, which damaged my thyroid and now have to take synthroid for that! I have had more a-fib attacks and was put on coumadin. It was horrible,I’m taking rat poison! It caused horrible bruises all over my body. The Dr. said I had to take it the rest of my life,I cried alot maybe I wouldn’t have a stroke or heart attack, but I could bleed to death because of coumadin! I cant believe darvocets have been on the market forever and now they tell us how dangerous they are!

    Posted on February 1, 2011 at 8:44 pm

  • Stephanie says:

    I have been on Darvocet since 2002 1 tablet 4 times a day. In 2006 had to have surgery and during my pre-op clearance was told that I have a very pronounced heat murmur. When talking with my mother was never diagnosis with a heart murmur throughout any of my childhood medical history and never been told in my adult history until now. I do have a history if migraines which had gotten worse in 2010 to the point I was facial nerve tingling, and droop. I still have facial nerve tingling on and off now. I was put on the Darvocet due to I was in a car accident and broke my arm and the put hardware in to repair and it constantly hurts.

    Posted on February 3, 2011 at 9:40 am

  • Lucinda says:

    I started taking Darvocet in 05 for lower back pain, related to herniated disk, started with low dose of 50 then went 100mg from my Dr. I am a Labor and Delivery Nurse, while working one day on the floor my heart began to beat irreguler to the point I could not catch my breath. Taken to er. Dr states caused by stress and pain. After several months of usage heart palpatations continued. Started on heart med for palpitations(PVC’s) and now hight BP. I was never told this could be a side effect of the pain med. I feel sorry for those who responded to pain med and now are unable to get it. But as a health care provider myself Iam not happy that now I have a Irregular heart rate from time to time.

    Posted on February 4, 2011 at 7:56 pm

  • L. J. says:

    Im very angry that the FDA took darvocet off the market and to do it in one day….
    There is a lawyer that is trying to get it back on the market..Her name is
    Barbara Maw… either look up, darvon/darvocet recall:justified or not? on facebook or google her name and go to her web site..The petition should be on that page..Thanks

    Posted on February 17, 2011 at 6:06 am

  • kk says:

    My husband was given Darvocet after he fractured his shoulder at wotrk. A few weeks later, he was hospitalized with a serious heart arrhythmia and will be on medication for it for the rest of his life. Coincidence? I don’t think so. Darvocet? Absolutely the culprit. Our four chilldren could have lost their father due to the drug manufacturer’s negligence. To all of you who are trying to get an attorney to get Darvocet back on the market, how very selfish of you, but I guess addiction makes people very selfish!

    Posted on March 2, 2011 at 8:49 am

  • LINDY says:

    I HAVE TAKEN DARVECET FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS. I STOPED ABOUT 6 WEEKS AGO. SUDDENLY, MY HAIR STARTED TO FALL OUT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD, I HAVE EXTREME ALOPECIA ARETTIA. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS REACTION AFTER STOPPING CONSUMPTION OF DARVOCET?

    Posted on April 14, 2011 at 8:24 am

  • Regina says:

    Well kk I have trouble seeing a medication as a “culprit”. There are millions of us Chronic Pain Sufferers who have taken Darvocet for over 20 years without one side effect. All medications have “possible” side effects that is why you take one and then you re-evaluate. There are millions of MS, Lupus and Disk Degenerative Disease patients out there who have lost their jobs, their independence and have had to go on disabilitly because of twits like you. Your four children could lose their father going to the mailbox, nothing is guaranteed, but self righteous do gooders like you always have to take something that did not work for you away from millions of people that it did work for. You can go to bed tonight knowing that you have had a hand in devastating millions of lives just because your husband had a bad reaction to a drug. Sleep well.

    Posted on August 23, 2011 at 6:35 pm

  • Margaret says:

    I have Lupus and a few other things wrong with me and I was on darvocet for years and years. I never had any problem with it I don’t believe so, but I always have lots of problems so how would i know it was from the Darvocet. So what are we suppose to do ?

    Posted on February 23, 2012 at 12:43 pm

  • Patrick says:

    I had many doctor visits for many different medical problems . On each visit I was given the regular pulse and heart tests as well as blood pressure. In 2011 I got kidney stones and my doctor perscibed Darvocet. I tok it for at least a month and felt pain in my chest at times but thought nothing of it. I pased the stone and stoped taking the Darvocet. Not long after that I had some sholder pain and went to my family doctor and they found a heart murmur. In the past I have even had stress tests and they never found a murmur . I believe the Darvocet caused my heart murmurs because I had been to the doctor not long before taking it and then soon after I stopped , and while I was on it I had chest pains , I thought it was because of the medication even then cause they would only come after I took the Darvocet.

    Posted on May 28, 2012 at 12:48 am

  • sharon says:

    My husband had MS and was taking Darvon for 5 yrs 600 mg 4 times a day and suffered congestive heart failure august 2008 and died may 2009. No matter what, I feel anyone that took these pills should be compinsated. I know with all my hearth that those pills lead to his death. Stand up for your rights.

    Posted on October 2, 2012 at 4:33 pm

  • William says:

    I have used darvocet for many years for lower back pain!! When it was discontinued and switched to Hydros 7.5, it was at this time I suffered from heart disease and heart failure!! I never had any heart problems till I discontinued using darvocet, which worked for me!! I function fine on it, but on Hydros, I do not!!! I would love to see it back on the market!!

    Posted on July 5, 2016 at 8:12 am

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