I have been using Darvocet for 20 years without any side effects. Over the years I have tried everything the doctors came up with for my nerve damage and fibromyalgia in my back. Now since Darvocet is no longer available I am starting over looking for something to take the edge off my everyday pain.
Replacement for Darvocet?
Question posted by tone4u2 on 4 Dec 2010
Last updated on 25 September 2018
Added 5 Dec 2010:
My doctor is trying tylenol-3 on me right now. This med makes me feel like I am in a fog. It seems to work nothing like the darvocet. My doctor never mentioned what withdrawls I would have coming off darvocet. I am wondering if my headache, irritabillity, upset stomach, vision not right, and restless sleep are from withdrawl or the codeine. It has been 5 days since stopping darvocet. I was taking 4 a day. Now doing tylenol-3 4 times a day and the relief from it only last 2-3 hours.
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19 Answers
jthompson1980
27 May 2018
i am a non recreational drug user and seek answers only out o# interest or for personal management. knowledge.
ljkappa
27 Oct 2011
Try consulting either a neurologist for an order for Neurontin, or any qualified physician who understands how it works. My neurologist put me on it several years ago for the nerve root damage caused by my cervical issues, and it has been the best thing in the world-I no longer have the excruciating pain in my arm and hand that had me screaming in bed at night and crying all day.
ladyapriel
25 Oct 2011
I have chronic pain as well as fibromyalgia an lots of nerve damage my Dr. started me on nurotion it helped some so then he added lyrica.It seemes to work well for me along with my other pain meds.
kwoods35
2 Oct 2011
Well what I call cocktails, I am still looking for the 100 % right one for me, I am taking,Which,
I have the following Conditions and what I am taking.
Hypothyroid (take Synthriod 0.75mg 1xday Morning)
ADD (Take Adderall XR 30 mg 2xday)
HBP (Take Maxzide 75/50mg 1xday Morning)
Anxiety (Takes Klonoplin 2 mg 2xday)
Pain/ Fibromyalgia/monthly’s (Take Loratab 7.5, 2-3 day as needed)
*Meds on side; I have like 3 bottles of CARISOPRODOL 350MG TABLETS (Soma’s) but something thing make me feel ugh next day….. Both types of Ambient for help sleeping (both these as well make me feel yuck in morning)!
Doctor as tried the following and for some reason or another I didn’t work for me and ad to quit.
Fibro- Savella- Made me sickish-STOPPED taking that real fast!
Fibro- LYRICA 50MG CAPSULES took for about 3 months, started making me forget things, talk funny and started getting blisters on fingers and hands, looked like water/ sun blisters, doctor gave me
SILVER SULFADIAZINE CREAM 50 GM to help, not knowing what it was caused from at the time.
9.27.11 took me off the Lyrica, and put me on Now, Pristiq 50 mg. I also gained about 15 pounds in that time period, a lot is water retention, so he Rx’ed me HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE 12.5MG CAPSULES (water pill) to take as needed.
NOW**** as of 9.27.11 Fibro- Pristiq 50 mg, at bedtime (makes me feel groggy, hung-over the next day and It’s even harder to get going, but only on like 4th pill.)
Now my friend whos had it for over 20 years her meds are completley different... that has had FMS, CFS, and CPS for a long time, she takes, Abilify 2 mg 1 time a day,
Cymbalta 60 mg 1 twice a day,
Topamax 100 mg 1 one time a day,
Amitriptyline 25 mg 2 at bedtime and
Loratab 2 a day and says that works for her, she still had her good and bad day, and flares but much better than it was..
Morrissey1950
3 Sep 2011
Re: darvocet replacement;
just yesterday I received an email from "you've got a lawyer" regarding a class action lawsuit against darvocet. They send me an email everytime there is a problem with any type of medication. This notice is free of charge. You might want to go online and look to see what they have to say regarding this medicine. I did not read the whole article, as i've not taken darvocet for at least 10 years now. Hope you find what you need. We can never be to careful of what we are taking.
obby
26 June 2011
I have taken Darvocet for years as did my mother with NO side effects. It seemed the only thing that would ease the pain in my back from OA & RA. Three doctors have told me they NEVER had a problem from Darvocet. I think they jumped the gum too fast by removeing it! I am still looking for something to replace it & thus far have found nothing I can tolatrate.
powys321
1 July 2011
I agree with you on 'jumping the gun'. My pharmacist strongly disagreed with the action as Darvocet was a better choice for our elderly population rather than vicoden or morphine products. My mother wouldnt ever have tolerated a morphine product as a heart patient. As for myself, I've had four major back surgeries and Darvocet helped me 'buy time' in my day to space out the oxy, dilauded, valium and methadoneand muscle relaxers. (not all at once of course! but through the last 5 years pain clinic oversite)
I too am having a very difficult time finding a product that covered 'just enough' and I'm simply flumoxed by the rational that side effects from Darvocet are worse than the side effects from morphine, oxycontin and methadone... really? I think as usual, it's a business decision... neatly coinciding with other health insurance moves and pharmacy sales. Chronic pain bites. I'm currently using Toradol (ultram) and Oxycontin with dilauded for breakthrough and a wonderful muscle relaxer: orphenadrine citrate 100mg... so much better than Robaxin etc which give me nightmares!
obby
2 July 2011
Now I am trying oxycodone/apap 5-325mg. Takes about 45 min.for it to kick in but it's not all the weard feelings the others have caused.
kat1958
24 July 2011
Ok, update! My Dr. has perscribed Nucynta 50mg. I am a real lightweight, so this medication makes me a bit dizzy and upsets my stomach, also, it dosen't seem to cover the pain in my back like the Darvocet did.
Then I went ahead with the cortizone shots in the back joints. That was a WOW.. good relief from that, just short lived.
Now it looks like therapy and strength exersize.
backleg
15 Aug 2011
I agree that the FDA removed Darvocet too fast. I am unable to take any kind of pain meds with codeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, etc. Very much allergic to them all. Tramadol was recommended - cannot take take due to history of epilepsy (seizures). Far as I know, nothing similar to Darvocet or Tramadol is left for me to take. Also, why punish those of us who need the RX for severe pain and are taking it appropriately while others are abusing/mixing the drug. I used Darvocet for brain surgery in l970, sinus surgery in 1992. Had back surgeries in '08 & '09. Have used Darvocet ONLY PRN for severe pain that Neurontin, Soma w/o codeine and Cymbalta will not stop. Have tried Lyrica - causes swelling and pain of ankles. The worst is waking up @ nite with severe pain in calf area after driving previous day. Physicians and pharmacies are to monitor patients' meds.
Yes, some people go to several different pharmacies hoping to not be noticed with timelines of purchasing narcotics. Your honest patient in need will work with the same MD and pharmacy.
AT THIS TIME, I AM REQUESTING FDA TO RECONSIDER ALLOWING CITIZENS OF THE US TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE DARVOCET WITH STRICTOR GUIDELINES/PROCEDURES IN PLACE (including the cardivascular dangers and dangers of mixing with other RX's and OTC's). PLEASE DO NOT HURT THOSE OF US WHO NEED TRUE HELP FOR PAIN RELIEF. Also, should the FDA allow distribution of Darvocet again with the lower dose of tylenol, pharmaceuticals SHOULD NOT be allowed to sale the new RX at a cost above $20.00 for consumers. The only change would be reducing the dosage of tylenol from 650 mg to 325 mg per tablet.
primetimegrape
23 Aug 2011
For the FDA to pull Darvocet off the market was ridiculous. Supposedly a drug that has been used for 50 years has all of a sudden found to cause possible "heart problems". B.S., the weak case study was awful. It was only based on 18 subjects, and that is not even close to coming up with adequate stats. Pulling Darvocet off the market was a way for the FDA to tap into getting rid of "addictive" painkillers. It is the start of a new trend I fear. Next they will be pulling Vicodin off and other things, then there will be nothing for ppl with real pain to take. Tramadol is not very strong at all. Yet some ppl abuse this drug, unreal!! Hopefully u have found a good sub. by now as this is an older post, but pulling Darvocet and Darvon off the market was just plain stupid. It was mild painkiller, and if heart problems were taking place, word would have been out long before now after so many years have passed.
Bad mistake and one that has ticked alot of ppl off, including myself, and I don't even take Darvocet for chronic pain, but I have been on it before when it was legal and it worked just fine. Good luck and God Bless
tracyc
24 June 2011
Ask Your doctor for hydrocodone. I also have nerve damage and unbearable pain. Hydrocodone works wonders for my pain
wmf
25 May 2011
tone4u2: Have you tried Neurontin? I recently used it for nerve pain after a back injury. It makes you drowsy the first few doses then you adapt to it. It finally allowed me to get some good sleep.
kat1958
11 May 2011
I have taken Darvocet for many years for low back pain. It has been the only drug I could take and get relief from and still function. I am unable to take any of the oxycodone pain meds. or codeine.
I am very interested in any suggestions for a substitute and am beginning to consider cortisone injections... :-(
I am so tired of hurting every day!
litlmommag
11 Sep 2011
I receive the injections but I take lyrica fr the nerve pain I think you should try that for nerve pain as I told someone earlier in my post today my pain specialist says lyrica is a great med for nerve pain I am on other pain meds but he says don't skip that one ask your dr about it good luck
Enora
14 Oct 2011
You have several options still to try in terms of narcotic pain relievers. You can try morphine or hydropmorhine, tramadol or tramacet - these general come in both short acting and long acting forms. If you have been on pain relievers for severe pain for many years, I would suggest approaching your doctor about the pain patch (Fentanyl patch). It provides 72 straight hours of pain relief, uses less medication to provided the pain relief of regular pain relievers like morphine and it prevents the constant up and down cycling of medication in your body which happens taking shorter acting medication. The cycling is was is more likely to lead to narcotic abuse. I have been using the patch for over 5 years for my own chronic pain battle and I don't know where I would be without it.
tink63
13 April 2011
I was taking Darvocet for about 20years also for fibromyalgia and hip pain, I have been off since November with no avail to finding something for the relief of daily pain. They have put me on Ultram but it does not work, so again I am limited on what I do without causing myself pain/fatigue or just suffering through it. I was wondering if anyone else has found something that works similar to Darvocet that lets you function as a normal human being daily without feeling drugged or dazzed. I really do not think the FDA thought this out too well for those of us who had no side effects and have a disease that they are just coming to understand. I bet the ones that pulled it do not experience the daily discomfort as do those with Fibromyalgia.
Sincerely,
Tired of the Fatigue and Pain
terry bell
30 Nov 2011
i am so with you. darvocet was my life saver. i didnt have side effects. i danced, walked and lived. now i am always in pain. my dr. tries all meds, none has worked as yet. i cant take all meds, cant take any anti inflamitories.
my cousin has fibromyalgia, my aunt has nerve damage, with sever head aches, all was good on darvoct n. why do this to us. if i could get it from another country, i would. i also dont want to be drugged.
jclancej
12 Feb 2013
Darvocet was the ONLY thing that worked for my migraines. Vicodin only works for about 4 hours, before coming back. I have been on 13 different medications, and no hope for the future. If anyone has found something that is like Darvocet, then, Praise The Lord! Please share your knowledge. I was on it for 4 years, I never got addicted, never had withdrawls, it didn't upset my stomach, like all the other medications, and I could function! I really despise the FDA for taking this off of the market. Birth control has killed a thousand times more (even more than reported, as they tested it down in Mexico before releasing it in the US), and yet it still remains on the market. So someone is making fat cash, while we suffer.
Marcie7
25 Sep 2018
No one thought the removal of Darvocet from the market very well. If it was harming some people, stop prescribing it to them. For those of use that relied on it to get by for Migraines and back pain, we have been left empty-handed. I cannot work because I cannot stand for more than an hour at most at a time and spend most of my time in bed sleeping so I can “get away” from the pain.
snowlover
11 April 2011
Vicodin is a very good pain pill. They make it in 5 mgs 7.5 and 10 mgs. Maybe start out on 5mgs. I used to take Darvocet then I went to Vicodin 5mgs. Yoyu shouldn't have any side effects going off the Darvocet. I know a lot about pain pills. I am on morphine now for back pain. Good Luck
mozie
6 March 2011
Hello tone4u2 I would have to agree with wildbrat I also take Lyrica for about 8yrs.I. take 100mg 3 times a day, along with oxyconyin.Iam still trying to find something to replace the oxycontin but the Lyrica works due to the contispation.
BLACK PUFF
15 Feb 2011
From what I know, you cannot really repair the nerves, but I have chronic muscle pain(my doc does not dx fibro). I use hydrocodone 5-325(2 at once) accompanied by one or two Neurontin. I used to be on Lyrica (the preferential Tx.) but it was too expensive. My Tx works very well. It will make you sleepy at first-start with a combo of one - hydro and neurontin until you can increase it. Some days I need more - some days less. If you are in serious pain, you probably should be seeking Pain Management and considereing a Pain patch along with other meds. Have you been put on an SSRI - Selective Seratonin Reuptake Inhibitor - Ex. only: Effexor? That is a good first step, which can be accomplished by your PCP. Let me know if possibly these interventions help. Good luck.
Re-reading your entry, it sounds as though you could really benefit from Pain Management, but if this is not your cup-of-tea, my close friend has diagnosed fibro in her back and she takes Oxycodone 10 combined with Neurontin. She also takes an SSRI as I previously mentioned. I hope this helps. I thought of her after I first closed. Perhaps this will offer you some new train of thought.
Enora
14 Oct 2011
You would be correct to say that you cannot repair nerves. Treatments in which doctors kill of nerves which are behaving improperly often resulting in having to repeat the procedure many times ( in one case I knew, once per year) as a damaged nerve can regrow but it most often regrows in properly causing more pain or a larger problem than before.
wildbrat
6 Dec 2010
Hello tone4u2, I have been on lyrica and norco 7.5/325,s for almost a year for Fibromyalgia, perifial Neourapathy, and chronic low back pain, I hate them all because of the side affects but love what the combination does for my pain. It's so easy to reach for that pill for some relief rather than deal with it.so far theres been no addiction exept for dependence on them to take away the pain. i believe that addiction is in the mind. can be controlled thru a persons own will power. I say try narco but start out with low dose and go from there. I love lyrica because it has an anti anxiety in it also which helps you to cope with the pain and every day life challenges we have from being disabled. Good luck to and i hope i have helped you.
htwooh
5 Dec 2010
Norco is vicodin (10 mg. hydrocodone and 325 acetaminophen). It is stronger than darvon I'm sure. I would ask your Dr. but they seem to be stupid lately so tell him just what you told us. Has he offered any substitutes? If you have been using something for 20 years you need to do something - I wouldn't go off this cold turkey but - ultram has bad withdrawal too. Everything does if you take it daily so that includes blood pressure meds, etc. Withdrawal is a very unnerving experience so talk to your Dr. before this is literally yanked away from you. Good Luck
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