Darvocet® (propoxyphene/acetaminophen), a pain medicine, is specifically approved to treat mild to moderate pain. It comes in tablet form and is typically taken every four hours as needed for pain. There are three different types of Darvocet, including:
- Darvocet-N 50
- Darvocet-N 100
- Darvocet A500.
The medication contains two active ingredients. Propoxyphene is classified as a mild, centrally-acting, narcotic pain reliever. “Centrally-acting” means that it works in the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). Propoxyphene is chemically related to methadone. The other active ingredient in Darvocet is acetaminophen, a pain reliever and fever reducer commonly found in non-prescription medications such as Tylenol®. Adding acetaminophen to propoxyphene increases the effectiveness for relieving pain and also provides fever-reducing effects.
Most people appear to tolerate Darvocet well. As with any medication, however, side effects are possible. Some of the most common side effects that have been reported with Darvocet include vomiting, dizziness, nausea, and drowsiness.
Darvocet Vs. Vicodin: The Similarities
Darvocet® (propoxyphene/acetaminophen) and Vicodin® (hydrocodone/APAP) are both prescription pain medications. Both contain a narcotic (propoxyphene napsylate or hydrochloride bitartrate) in combination with acetaminophen (also known as APAP). Both are classified as controlled substances, which means they have significant abuse potential. They have similar side effects, drug interactions, and warnings and precautions.
Both Vicodin and Darvocet are available in generic form and are relatively inexpensive (in generic form). Both come in tablet form and are available in several different strengths.
Alcohol should be avoided (or, at the very least, limited) while taking either Vicodin or Darvocet. Both medications can be very dangerous in the case of overdose.
Darvocet Vs. Vicodin: The Differences
Vicodin is generally a stronger painkiller, compared to Darvocet (although some people may find Darvocet to work better, due to individual differences in how people react to medications). Darvocet is approved to treat mild to moderate pain, while Vicodin is approved to treat moderate to moderately severe pain.
Vicodin is a Schedule III controlled substance, while Darvocet is a Schedule IV controlled substance. This means that Vicodin is more likely to be abused, compared with Darvocet. However, the prescribing rules for both medications are the same.
Can You Take Too Much Darvocet?
Darvocet® (propoxyphene/acetaminophen) is a prescription pain medicine that contains a narcotic. As with any medicine, it is possible to take too much Darvocet. The specific effects of an overdose can vary, depending on a number of factors, including the Darvocet dosage and whether it was taken with any other medications or substances.
Seek immediate medical attention if you or someone else may have overdosed on Darvocet. A Darvocet overdose can be lethal.
Symptoms of an Overdose With Darvocet
People who take too much Darvocet may have overdose symptoms that could include:
- Severe drowsiness
- Coma
- Seizures
- Difficulty breathing
- Blue skin
- Small pupils (initially), followed by wide pupils later
- An irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia)
- Loss of life.
Additionally, the acetaminophen component of Darvocet may cause the following symptoms in the case of an overdose:
- Liver failure
- Yellowing of the whites of the eyes and skin (jaundice)
- Dark urine
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Sweating
- Irritability
- Confusion
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- Bleeding
- Loss of life.
An overdose with Darvocet can be lethal within minutes. Because an overdose with this medication can be very dangerous, Darvocet should be used very cautiously in people with depression or suicidal tendencies.
Be sure to follow your Darvocet dosage instructions very carefully, in order to avoid an accidental overdose.
Treatment Options
Early treatment after a Darvocet overdose is essential. If the overdose was recent, a healthcare provider may “pump” the stomach, induce vomiting, or administer activated charcoal to prevent the body from absorbing Darvocet. A medication called N-acetylcysteine (Acetadote®, Mucomyst®) is extremely important for the treatment of an acetaminophen overdose, and can help prevent liver damage due to this component of Darvocet. An antidote (naloxone or Narcan®) may be administered to counteract overdose effects of the propoxyphene component of Darvocet.
Treatment will also involve supportive care, which consists of treating symptoms that occur as a result of the overdose. Sometimes, liver transplantation is necessary if severe liver damage has occurred.
It is important that you seek medical attention immediately if you believe that you may have overdosed on this drug. Early treatment can help limit the severity of a Darvocet overdose.
Darvocet® (propoxyphene/acetaminophen) is a prescription medicine approved for relieving mild to moderate pain. It is important to talk to your healthcare provider about Darvocet risks, as the medication is a controlled substance that has the potential to be abused.
Darvocet is not a good choice for people who have a history of alcohol or drug abuse. You should not take the drug more frequently, longer, or at a higher dose than prescribed. An overdose (either accidental or intentional) with Darvocet can be extremely dangerous and could, in some cases, be lethal within 15 minutes. Because it is very dangerous in the case of an overdose, Darvocet should be prescribed cautiously to people with depression or suicidal tendencies.
A number of side effects have been reported with Darvocet. Some of the most common problems that were reported during clinical studies include drowsiness, dizziness, vomiting, and nausea. Since only vague side effect information is available for Darvocet, it can be difficult to know exactly how common (or how rare) the side effects of this medication may be.
Darvocet® (propoxyphene/acetaminophen) is a prescription pain medication that contains a narcotic. Over time, the body becomes accustomed to the effects of the medication. If Darvocet is stopped too quickly, withdrawal symptoms may occur.
Potential Darvocet withdrawal symptoms include diarrhea, anxiety, insomnia, and upper respiratory problems (such as a runny nose). These symptoms can occur with chronic, legitimate use of the drug, as well as with Darvocet abuse. Withdrawal is a normal, predictable, physical response to stopping medications like Darvocet (although it is certainly more likely to occur in cases of Darvocet addiction).
Withdrawal from Darvocet can be extremely unpleasant. It can be so uncomfortable that people start taking the drug again in order to relieve withdrawal symptoms. In order to limit withdrawal, you should not stop taking Darvocet “cold turkey.” Your healthcare provider can slowly decrease your dose at a rate that helps minimize withdrawal symptoms.
