Side Effects > Darvon

Darvon Side Effects

Generic Name: propoxyphene

Please note - some side effects for Darvon may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/ or 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).

Side Effects of Darvon - for the Consumer

Darvon Compound-65

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Darvon Compound-65:

Constipation; dizziness; drowsiness; lightheadedness; nausea; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when using Darvon Compound-65:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); anxiety; black or bloody stools; cold or clammy skin; confusion; decreased urination; excessive sweating; hallucinations; hearing loss; loss of appetite; loss of consciousness; mental or mood changes; ringing in the ears; seizures; severe drowsiness or dizziness; severe or persistent stomach pain or heartburn; unusual bruising or bleeding; vision changes; vomit that looks like coffee grounds; weakness; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Darvon

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Darvon:

Constipation; dizziness; drowsiness; lightheadedness; nausea; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when using Darvon:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); anxiety; cold or clammy skin; confusion; excessive sweating; hallucinations; loss of appetite; loss of consciousness; mental or mood changes; seizures; severe drowsiness or dizziness; severe or persistent stomach pain; vision changes; weakness; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Darvon-N

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Darvon-N:

Constipation; dizziness; drowsiness; lightheadedness; nausea; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when using Darvon-N:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); anxiety; cold or clammy skin; confusion; excessive sweating; hallucinations; loss of appetite; loss of consciousness; mental or mood changes; seizures; severe drowsiness or dizziness; severe or persistent stomach pain; vision changes; weakness; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

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Darvon Side Effects - for the Professional

Darvon

In a survey conducted in hospitalized patients, less than 1% of patients taking propoxyphene hydrochloride at recommended doses experienced side effects. The most frequently reported were dizziness, sedation, nausea, and vomiting. Some of these adverse reactions may be alleviated if the patient lies down.

Other adverse reactions include constipation, abdominal pain, skin rashes, lightheadedness, headache, weakness, euphoria, dysphoria, hallucinations, and minor visual disturbances.

Propoxyphene therapy has been associated with abnormal liver function tests and, more rarely, with instances of reversible jaundice (including cholestatic jaundice).

Subacute painful myopathy has occurred following chronic propoxyphene overdosage.

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Side Effects by Body System

General

In general, the adverse effects of propoxyphene may be more likely and more severe in patients with renal and/or liver disease.

General side effects including drug tolerance and influenza type illness have been reported.

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects have included dizziness, sedation, stupor, delirium, somnolence, ataxia, coma, syncope, and respiratory depression. The sedative effects of propoxyphene have been associated with a 60% increased risk of hip fracture in elderly patients.

Other

Other side effects have included dependence (although the abuse liability of propoxyphene is less than that of some other narcotic analgesics). Withdrawal symptoms after either abrupt cessation or fast tapering may occur and include agitation, restlessness, anxiety, insomnia, tremor, tachycardia, hallucinations, psychosis, abdominal cramps, vomiting, sweating, and seizures.

Drug toxicity, multiple drug overdose, and narcotic overdose have also been reported.

Sensorineural deafness has been reported following chronic abuse and/or large doses of propoxyphene-containing compounds. Optic atrophy has been reported following overdose.

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects have included arrhythmia, bradycardia, cardiac/respiratory arrest, congestive arrest, congestive heart failure (CHF), tachycardia, myocardial infarction (MI), hypotension, decreased blood pressure, elevated heart rate, abnormal heart rate, and dizziness. A variety of arrhythmias (including heart block) have been reported most often in association with propoxyphene overdose.

Some of the cardiotoxic effects reported in association with propoxyphene may be attributable to its major active metabolite, norpropoxyphene.

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects have included nausea, vomiting, and constipation which have been relatively common. Gastrointestinal bleeding and acute pancreatitis have also been reported.

A case of ischemic colitis has been reported following an overdose of propoxyphene which was complicated by severe hypotension.

Genitourinary

Genitourinary side effects including a case of retroperitoneal fibrosis have been reported.

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects including rashes and itch have been reported.

Renal

Renal side effects have included a single case of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus following an overdose of propoxyphene (however, other causes of diabetes insipidus in that patient were not rigorously excluded).

Hepatic

Hepatic side effects have included elevated liver function tests, jaundice, hepatic steatosis, hepatomegaly, hepatocellular injury, and hepatotoxicity.

Hematologic

Hematologic side effects have rarely included cases of hemolytic anemia, pancytopenia, and disseminated intravascular coagulation after administration (or abuse) of propoxyphene-containing compounds.

Local

Local side effects have included inadvertent intra-arterial injection with ensuing vascular compromise and distal necrosis has been reported in propoxyphene-abusing patients.

Musculoskeletal

Musculoskeletal side effects including myopathy and rhabdomyolysis have been reported after chronic oral use. Fibrous myopathy has also been reported in propoxyphene-abusing patients who administered the drug via intramuscular injection.

Metabolic

Metabolic side effects including metabolic acidosis have been reported. Cases of severe hypoglycemia have been reported in patients with chronic renal failure.

Ocular

Ocular side effects including eye swelling and vision blurred have been reported.

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity side effects have been reported.

Psychiatric

Psychiatric side effects including abnormal behavior, confusional state, hallucinations, and mental status change have been reported.

Respiratory

Respiratory side effects including dyspnea have been reported.

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