Propoxyphene is a pain reliever that can be found in the drugs Darvon, Darvocet and PP-Cap. The drug was originally developed and sold by Eli Lilly, Inc. It was later marketed by Xanodyne Pharmaceutical, Inc., with generic versions sold by Qualitest/Vintage Pharmaceutical. Generics included Balacet, Dolene, E-Lor, Genagesic, Propacet, SK-65, SK-65 APAP, Trycet, and Wygesic.
In July of 2009 the FDA called for a boxed warning to inform users of an increased risk of fatalities when propoxyphene was used in excess dosages. On November 19, 2010, the manufacturers of these drugs agreed to recall them because drugs containing propoxyphene put patients at risk of serious, even fatal, heart rhythm abnormalities including arrhythmia, congestive heart failure, cardiac arrest, heart attack, and death. The link to the FDA announcement is http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm234350.htm
In 2005 the United Kingdom banned drugs containing propoxyphene. In 2009 the European Medicines Agency began a phased withdrawal of drugs containing propoxyphene from the European Union.
If you have suffered a heart related injury after having used a drug containing propoxyphene, please contact our firm, and allow the attorneys of Lopez McHugh to investigate your claim.