Darvocet Heart Problems Spark Latest Lawsuit
Another patient suffering from a Darvocet heart problem has joined the long list of plaintiffs filing Darvocet lawsuits. Pain reliever Darvocet and the related drug Darvon were banned by the FDA in 2010 after being linked to a number of serious and sometimes fatal heart complications. While drugmakers Eli Lilly & Company, and later Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals marketed the drug as safe and effective, a growing number of Darvocet side effects induced cardiac injuries and deaths have proven otherwise.
Darvon is the commercial name for propoxyphene, an opiod used to treat mild to moderate pain; Darvocet contains propoxyphene along with acetaminophen. Although Eli Lilly and Xanodyne claimed the drugs posed only slight health risks, Darvocet and Darvon side effects have included heart attack and arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) as well as the potential for Darvocet addiction and overdose.
Lawsuit alleges drugmakers hid Darvocet and Darvon side effects
On October 3, 2011, Calvin Satterwhite filed a lawsuit against Eli Lilly and Xanodyne, alleging that the drug manufacturers concealed knowledge of serious Darvocet and Darvon side effects and touted the drugs as safe for use. Mr. Satterwhite seeks compensatory damages for cardiovascular injuries and arrhythmias he suffered after taking the drug as prescribed, and emotional damage resulting from his compromised health and fear of future cardiac events.
Darvocet lawsuits mount after FDA ban
Mr. Satterwhite is one of many patients who have filed lawsuits after suffering from a Darvocet heart problem; almost 90 cases have already been consolidated into multi-district litigation (MDL) in the Eastern District of Kentucky. The number of Darvocet lawsuits increased significantly once the FDA recalled and banned the drug in 2010 after years of pressure from concerned citizens and watchdog groups. The UK had banned propoxyphene in 2005.
In a written statement, the FDA noted that “propoxyphene may have the potential to affect cardiovascular events, including life-threatening arrythmias” and explained that the drug interferes with the electrical activity of the heart, which can be seen by an electrocardiogram (ECG).
The FDA also said that risk of adverse events can be affected by “small changes in the health status of the patient, such as dehydration, a change in medications, or decreased kidney function.” In other words, any weakening in the patient’s condition could serve as a catalyst for the onset of a Darvocet heart problem.
In Mr. Satterwhite’s case, he and his Darvocet lawyer seek $2,000,000 from the drugmakers for negligence, product liability and personal injury.
