A Panel is Recommending Pulling Darvon Off the Market

Darvon is a popular drug for pain. It's a prescription that's been used for over 50 years. Before Oxycodone and its derivatives there was Darvon. I'm old enough to remember everyone with pain getting Darvon

However, there has been a recommended ban on Darvon. Addiction and suicide are being seen with its use!

A panel met and recommended taking Darvon of the market although the Federal Drug Administration may not follow the recommendations.

Darvon was first marketed in 1957. You may have heard of it as Darvocet which has acetaminophen (Tylenol) in it. It's one of the top 25 drugs prescribed.

Of course to no one's surprise the two companies that market the drug say that it is perfectly safe and it works if used according to directions. I imagine no one in the CEOs' families have committed suicide from it. The companies did make a good point in that other drugs such as the one I mentioned above, Oxycodone, can cause problems as well. My mom was on Oxycodone once and had to be in the hospital for pain management i.e. the doctor wouldn't let her take it at home although I was with her. .

The United States wouldn't be the first to ban Darvon. The United Kingdom did so in 2005.

The drug has to be withdrawn slowly because patients have become addicted to it.

It seems that the acetaminophen in Darvon is the part of it that is effective in reducing pain so the fact that over 500 people died in 2007 from it seems not to be worth the risk according to the panel.

Looking at the advisory panel that made these recommendations we see

William McConagha, Esq. (Assistant Commissioner for Accountability and Integrity)

Michael Ortwerth, Ph.D. (Director)

Doreen Brandes (Program Specialist)

Deborah Schonemann (Program Support Assistant)

Theresa Green (Committee Management Officer)

LTJG Tonya Johnican (Operations Research Analyst)

Ana Salinas (Committee Management Specialist)

CDR Dornette Spell LeSane, M.H.A., R.N. (Senior Program Management Officer)

List: Courtesy of FDA

There is not one Medical Doctor on this team which sure surprises me.

Like many things there are proponents and opponents. Those who use Darvon successfully love it and need it. The group above may not be totally in touch with the average patient and may just be looking at numbers of people who did abuse the drug. Any drug that is abused will cause problems. It does seem that after 50 years on the market taking it off now may warrant a bit more investigative work before the deed is done. Of course this is just my opinion.

SOURCES

Buffalo News

USA Today

FDA