Popular Pain Medicine Linked to Heart Problems
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a safety alert and advised patients prescribed propoxyphene to stop taking the drug, after studies revealed that the medication could lead to serious heart conditions. The FDA has warned doctors to stop prescribing the mediation and also requested the manufacturers recall their product.
Propoxyphene is an opioid pain reliever and is sold as a single product under the brand name Darvon. Propoxyphene is also sold as a combination product, mixed with acetaminophen and marketed under the brand name Darvocet. According to Dr. John Jenkins, director of the Office of New Drugs at the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), “The drug's effectiveness in reducing pain is no longer enough to outweigh the drug's serious potential heart risks."
Specially, the study revealed that propoxyphene significantly altered the electrical activity of the heart and could increase the risk for serious abnormal heart rhythms, even if taken at the prescribed dosage.
Originally approved by the FDA in 1957, it is estimated that more than 10 million Americans took a prescription containing propoxyphene in 2009.
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result taking propoxyphene, then you may be entitled to money damages. Contact a Burg Simpson dangerous drug attorney today for a free consultation.
