What is the difference between Darvocet, Darvon and Propoxyphene?
Darvocet and Darvon both contain propoxyphene, an opioid narcotic, and are prescribed for the treatment of mild to moderate pain. Propoxyphene is the generic form of Darvon. Darvocet combines propoxyphene with acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) and is the more widely prescribed painkiller. Both name brand drugs are produced by Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals.
Propoxyphene (Darvon) has been on the U.S. market for over 50 years. The FDA approved Darvocet in 1972. According to the FDA, approximately 10 million people used the drugs in 2009. On November 22, 2010 the FDA recommended a ban on Darvocet, Darvon, and propoxyphene from the U.S. market due to increasing evidence that the drugs- in all of its forms- cause extremely serious heart problems and contribute to heart attack, overdose, suicide, and accidental death.
