Darvocet is a powerful painkiller that combined the opioid drug dextropropoxyphene with acetaminophen. It was removed from the market due to a variety of unforeseen side effects.
One of the primary risks of Darvocet was the fact that it contained acetaminophen. Overdose of acetaminophen could happen all too easily, leading to potentially fatal liver toxicity.
Additionally, this drug has become associated with suicide via drug overdose. It carried a black-box warning stating: “Propoxyphene should be used with extreme caution, if at all, in patients who have a history of substance/drug/alcohol abuse, depression with suicidal tendency, or who already take medications that cause drowsiness (e.g., antidepressants, muscle relaxants, pain relievers, sedatives, tranquilizers). Fatalities have occurred in such patients when propoxyphene was misused.”
One of the final straws that led to this dangerous medication finally being pulled from the market entirely was when it was found to be linked to heart arrhythmias.
With any or all of these potential side effects, patients have successfully argued that the manufacturers of Darvocet deserved to be held legally responsible. If you feel that you or a loved one has experienced harmful side effects while taking Darvocet, contact us today to find out if you may have a personal injury claim.