Propoxyphene is in a group of drugs called narcotic pain relievers, generally used to relieve mild to moderate pain. It can be taken daily, every four to six hours as needed for pain. The medication is a narcotic and should only be taken according to the prescribing orders to avoid accidental overdose or moderate to serious side effects. As with any medication, propoxyphene has the risk of side effects.
Abstract
Propoxyphene is in a group of drugs called narcotic pain relievers.
Propoxyphene is used to relieve mild to moderate pain. It can be taken daily, every four to six hours as needed for pain. The medication is a narcotic and should only be taken according to the prescribing orders to avoid accidental overdose or moderate to serious side effects. As with any medication, propoxyphene has the risk of side effects.
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Street nams
Darvon
Darvocet
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Brand Names
Darvon Pulvules
Darvon Compound-65
Darvon-N
E-Lor
PC-CAP
Darvocet A500
Darvocet-N 100
Darvocet-N 50
Propacet 100
Wygesic
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History
Propoxyphene was originally developed by Eli Lilly & Co., and has been on the U.S. market for more than 50 years. It was first approved by the FDA in 1957. Propoxyphene was sold by prescription under various names.Since 1978, the FDA received two requests to remove propoxyphene from the market. Until then, the FDA had concluded that the benefits of propoxyphene for pain relief at recommended doses outweighed the safety risks of the drug. In 2007, with over 23.3 million prescriptions filled, it became the most widely prescribed treatments for mild to moderate pain. However, from November 19, 2010, Propoxyphene was no longer available in the U.S.
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Pharmacology
Propoxyphene is a centrally acting opiate analgesic. In vitro studies demonstrated propoxyphene and the metabolite norpropoxyphene inhibit sodium channels with norpropoxyphene being approximately 2-fold more potent than propoxyphene and propoxyphene approximately 10-fold more potent than lidocaine. Propoxyphene and norpropoxyphene inhibit the voltage-gated potassium current carried by cardiac rapidly activating delayed rectifier (hERG) channels with approximately equal potency. It is unclear if the effects on ion channels occur within therapeutic dose range
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Uses
This medication is used to help relieve mild to moderate pain. Propoxyphene belongs to a class of drugs known as narcotic (opiate) analgesics. It works in the brain to change how your body feels and responds to pain.
Some drug users abuse propoxyphene only to tide themselves over when they cannot obtain their preferred drug, usually heroin.
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Scheduling
Propoxyphene is classified as a schedule IV narcotic in the US.
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Psychological and physical addiction liabilites
The possible are the Psychological and physical addiction liabilites of propoxyphene:
Hives
Difficulty in breathing
Swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat
Shallow breathing, slow heartbeat;
Feeling light-headed, fainting;
Confusion, fear, unusual thoughts or behavior;
Seizure (convulsions);
Problems with urination; or
Nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Long term effect
One of the long-term effects of propoxyphene addiction is that characterized by greater dependence on the drug and tolerance to the dosage. Tolerance to a drug means that you must take more and more of the medication to get the same early effect.
After long-term use of propoxyphene, men may also experience a decreased level of testosterone or enlargement of the prostate. Other long-term effects include excessive sweating, swelling in the arms and legs, and chronic constipation.
Because chronic use leads to tolerance and dependence, you may experience withdrawal symptoms if a prescription is reduced or stopped. These withdrawal symptoms can involve signs of central nervous system hyperactivity and will peak 48 to 72 hours after your last dose. Physical symptoms will be eliminated within a week but it may take longer to erase the psychological addiction.
Withdrawal from propoxyphene will begin with anxiety followed by an increased rate of breathing, runny nose, stomach cramps, tearing and sweating. Although withdrawal from oxycodone is distressing it is not fatal.
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Physical effects
The physical effects of propoxyphene are as below:
Pain relief
Sedation
Nausea
Vomiting
Dizziness
Headache
Constipation
Sweating
Insomnia
Urinary retention
Miosis
Euphoria or dysphoria
Withdrawal effects
Propoxyphene withdrawal symptoms can vary in intensity and may include:
Sweating
Insomnia
Shivering
Shakiness
Diarrhea
Goosebumps
Cravings for hydrocodone
Anxiety
Pain
Nausea
A runny nose.
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Psychological treatment options
The pyschological treatment option for propoxyphene addiction involve:
Detox at addiction treatment centers, followed by counselling. Rehab centers often help addicted patients to learn to overcome the emotional issues that led them to addiction. Rehab also offers important tips and strategies for achieving relapse prevention.
Medical treatment
Medical treatment beside psychological treatment may involve in giving drugs which both stimulate and block opioid receptors for example pentazocine, nalbuphine, butorphanol, and buprenorphine, may reduce the effect of propoxyphene and may precipitate withdrawal symptoms from propoxyphene.
Pyschological treatment
The psychological treatment is generally carried out at rehab centers. About 10% of addicted patients have been successfully able to overcome this addiction without the rehab centers. The treatment involved detox followed by followed by counselling. Rehab centers provide guidelines, following which one may find it easy in preventing relapse.
Related Drugs
The drugs that are related to propoxyphene are:
Opium
Codeine
Heroin
Methadone
Fentanyl
Hydrocodone.
Related Synthetics
The related synthetics to propoxyphene are:
oxycodone
buprenorphine
hydromorphone
methadone
hydrocodone
References
[1] http://www.drugs.com/mtm/meperidine.html
[2] http://www.sobermd.us/drugs_details/propoxyphene
[3] http://www.nltc.com/ref_lib/pharmabuse.html
[4] http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ana.410130213/abstract
[5] http://www.rxlist.com/darvon-drug.htm
[6] http://www.druglib.com/druginfo/demerol/description_pharmacology/
[7] http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/schedules/index.html
[8] http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm234350.htm
