Darvon is a narcotic which is commonly prescribed to treat mild to moderate pain. Darvon was first approved in the 1950's but has come under fire in recent years. In January, 2009, a public FDA hearing was held wherein an outside panel of experts voted 14-12 that Darvon should be removed from the market. The FDA disagreed and placed a bolder warning on the drug later in the year warning of the risk of overdoses.
Recent studies have shown that Darvon interferes with the electrical activity of the heart and can cause irregular heart rhythms that can be fatal. On November 19, 2010, Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals agreed to pull Darvon from the market. They also agreed to halt marketing of the related drug Darvocet which has been subject to safety concerns for decades.
According to the FDA, about 10 million people in the United States received prescriptions for Darvon and related Darvocet in 2009 alone.
Britain and the European Union decided some time ago to ban Darvon due to the risk of suicide and accidental overdoses.
For more information on the recall, please click here.
If you or a loved one has used the Darvon or Darvocet and suffered irregular heart rhythms or related heart problems, please contact our office for a free legal consultation.
