Propoxyphene Banned by the FDA

A pain drug called propoxyphene, which is used in drugs such as Darvocet and Darvon, among other names, has been removed from the market at the request of the FDA, after decades of unnecessary deaths.

The FDA first approved propoxyphene back in 1957 to treat mild to moderate pain, but studies have shown since 1978 that the pain killer can induce lethal heart arrythmias. This is ironic since propoxyphene is used almost exclusively on cardiac (heart) units in hospitals, which makes it look like hospitals gave it to patients to cause complications so they would stay in the hospital longer.

Sidney Wolfe M.D. of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group, has been asking to ban propoxyphene for years, but despite that 120 million prescriptions continued to be filled in the United States. After the FDA’s decision to finally ban the dangerous drug Wolfe said:

"Due to FDA negligence, at least 1,000 to 2,000 or more people in the U.S. have died from using propoxyphene since the time the UK ban was announced. This is a serious indictment of the FDA’s long-lasting unwillingness to protect people in this country from a deadly but barely effective painkiller."

Even more concerning is that doctors and hospitals who were also warned refused to stop allowing the drug to be prescribed and given to patients, especially those with heart conditions.