Darvon Lawsuits | Darvocet Side Effects | Darvocet Lawyer

Darvon and Darvocet, two brand-name painkillers containing the active ingredient propoxyphene, were banned by the FDA in November of 2010. All generic versions of propoxyphene were also included the recall. The FDA action was due to the high number of reported Darvocet side effects, which in many cases resulted in accidental death.

Darvocet and Darvon lawsuits surged in the wake of the recall, and have continued to mount in the year since the FDA’s decision. Prior to the ban, the drug was used for over 50 years, with more than 12 million prescriptions in all 50 states. According to an analysis of adverse event records from various reporting agencies,  thousands of patients were regularly exposed to highly dangerous Darvocet side effects such as arrhythmia, heart attack, and overdose.

Range of Darvocet Side Effects

According to the National Institutes for Health fact sheet, Darvon and Darvocet use carries risk for a variety of mild to moderate side effects, including:

•  Constipation
• Dizziness
• Difficulty urinating
• Drowsiness
• Lightheadedness
• Rash
• Stomach upset; omiting

Under most circumstances, these conditions are considered normal and acceptable side effects for a typical pain medication. A Darvocet lawyer is unlikely to pursue a Darvon lawsuit based on these side effects alone.

Darvocet heart problems

A Darvon lawsuit based on Darvocet heart problems examine the effect the drug can have on the function of a previously healthy heart. These problems can be potentially life-threatening and have resulted in death.

Darvocet side effects rooted in heart problems include:

• Darvocet Arrhythmia: an irregular heartbeat; the result of chemical changes to electrical impulses in the heart
• Ventricular Tachycardia:  an abnormally rapid heartbeat that can ultimately result in heart spasms requiring defibrillation
• Torsade de pointes: another form of Darvocet heart arrythmia; effectively slowing the heart beat to the point that it no longer pumps blood effectively

Heart problems such as these can are the most dangerous and are typically the cause of a Darvocet accidental death.

Darvocet Overdose

As with many painkillers, Darvon and Darvocet are especially dangerous when taken in combination with other sedatives. Darvon lawsuit claims for death and coma have alleged that drug interactions with Darvon and Darvocet were not sufficiently understood or warned against.

A Darvocet lawyer will review a case of a death following prescription of Darvon or Darvocet to confirm that an overdose did in fact cause the death of the individual. This includes cases of simple overdose, in which the patient took enough of the drug alone to cause death; and cases of interactive overdose, in which a safe amount of the drug was taken along with another substance that combined to create dangerous Darvocet side effects.

A Darvon lawsuit will specify such pertinent facts surrounding a particular allegation as well as the alleged proximate cause of a claim involving Darvocet death.

Multi-District Litigation for Darvon Lawsuit

In August, 2011, MDL proceedings were announced in the Eastern District of Kentucky for cases involving Darvocet side effects. The original order included 17 lawsuits from 9 different states. A year later since in the FDA ban of Darvocet, and in the months since the designation of MDL, the number of those filing a Darvon lawsuit has grown significantly.

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