Substitute For Darvocet (Page 2)
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My Dad is taking Tramadol in place of Darvocet. He took Darvocet for 20 years no side effects, now he is taking Tramadol and is good for pain but his blood pressure is going high and he has arrythmia and terrible depression. I think this pill has problem working with Paxil, Atenolol, Norvasc and Digoxin and should not be given together or adjusted. Why are doctors not aware of this and what else could he or should he be taking? Confused and upset! I f Darvocet cause heart attacks then why could he take it for 20 years without problems and now with Tramadol the safe one he's having all these troubles.

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REPORT

The FDA was sucked into taking this ludicrous decision to ban propoxyphene (Darvon) on the seriously flawed report by UK's MHRA!

MHRA DEFINITELY NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE

Decisions taken by MHRA regarding Co-proxamol could only be described as farcical if the results for patients hadn’t been so horrendous!

Four years after their ban on co-proxamol they continued to search for reasons to justify their irrational reasoning for banning co-proxamol.

I have been led to believe this Xanodyne trial, commissioned by the FDA in late 2009- 2010 to ascertain the possible consequences of increasing doses of dextropropoxyphene on cardiac function. This followed the FDA’s refusal to accept the Public Plea to ban it.

They gave healthy 25 - 45yr old volunteers daily doses of 600 mg (2.31 times the max UK dose) & 900mg. (3.46 times the max UK dose). After 11 days they had to stop the trial as some of the volunteers developed serious & potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmia's.

The FDA's / Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals cardiac conduction testing was performed with extremely high daily doses of Dextropropoxyphene! While Co-proxamol, contains only 32.5mg/maximum 8 tabs/day which only amounts to 260mg/day!

The USA equivalent ‘Darvon’ has a usual dosage of one 65 mg propoxyphene hydro-chloride capsule every 4 hours 6 tablets per day. The maximum daily dose is 390mg which was still significantly higher than the UK maximum dose.

Reference: - https:/­/­www.gov.uk/­drug-safety-update/­-dextro-propoxyphene-new-studies-confirm-cardiac-risks

You can clearly see from my WordPress blog the [BBC Breakfast video Part 3] (August 2008) MHRA’s Dr. June Raine quoting “just a few tablets too many” could cause accidental death!

https:/­/­coproxamolban.wordpress.com/­2016/­02/­18/­co-proxamol/­

THIS FDA REPORT APPEARS TO BE ABSOLUTE NONSENSE, AS THE MAXIMUM UK DOSE WOULD BE 8 TABLETS PER DAY WHILE FDA’S MAXIMUM TRIAL DOSE WOULD HAVE BEEN OVER 27 TABLETS!

The MHRA (via .gov.uk) APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN SCRAPING THE BARREL IN ORDER TO JUSTIFY THE INHUMANE DECISION TAKEN BY THEM DURING 2005!

THEIR CATASTROPHIC DECISION HAS RESULTED IN WORLDWIDE MISERY! THIS MHRA INITIATIVE FIRST INFLUENCED DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE EUROPEAN MEDICINES AGENCY DURING AUGUST 2009 WHEN THEY DECIDED TO WITHDRAW CO-PROXAMOL. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY THE US FDA WHO TOOK ACTION IN 2010. THIS RESULTED IN CANADA, SINGAPORE, TAIWAN, AND NEW ZEALAND TO FOLLOW THE SAME PATH.

Since November 2015 the NHS via local CCG’s are now determined to stamp out the 'Named Patient safeguard' guaranteed by MHRA during (2004 – 2007), whilst hoping the real reason for the price rise isn't blamed on them! This decision will result in thousands of patients living in unmedicated pain for the rest of their lives.

WHY? (A total lack of foresight)!

The ‘Australian Acute Musculoskeletal Pain Guideline’ WAS RESCINDED BY NATIONAL HEALTH AND MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL IN 2013.

Australia 2013 The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) reversed the decision took in 2011 to ban the drug and CONCLUDED THAT THE QUALITY, SAFETY, AND EFFICACY OF DI-GESIC AND DOLOXENE (CO-PROXAMOL) WERE NOT UNACCEPTABLE, PROVIDED THAT ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS AND MONITORING ARRANGEMENTS WERE IMPOSED. The drug is now available for prescribing again. Reference: - http:/­/­www.medicine.ox.ac.uk/­bandolier/­b...

Reference: - http:/­/­www.nhmrc.gov.au/­_files_nhmrc/­pub...

MHRA (OR DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH) HAVE FAILED TO WORK WITH THE MANUFACTURER to ensure the unlicensed product remained available! The Department of Health has been negligent by not ensuring a consistent supply of Dextropropoxyphene in order to enable the ‘Named Patient Scheme’ to continue. Whereas Aspen Pharmacare Australia appears to have had the foresight to purchase 99% of the remaining stock during 2013 in order to supply the needs of the Australian patients for the foreseeable future!

The inept decisions taken by the MHRA in 2005 has caused worldwide disruption in the manufacture of Dextropropoxyphene which is the main cause of the spiralling costs of Co-proxamol today.

Global manufacture of dextropropoxyphene has followed a downward trend since 2003, when 349.6 tons were manufactured. (Actual cost to NHS less than £2.00 per 100 Tablets) This decline is attributed to the fact that the substance had been banned in several countries owing to concerns over serious side effects.

In May 2013, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India issued a gazette notification suspending the manufacture, sale, and distribution of dextropropoxyphene and formulations containing dextropropoxyphene in the country. Manufacturing therefore declined again, to 135 tons in 2013.

Despite the suspension measure, India was the only country reporting manufacture in significant quantities in 2013. Global exports also continued to decline in 2013 and amounted to just 199 kg, almost exclusively from India, the principal exporting country of dextropropoxyphene, with 90 per cent of global exports. The only other country with some export was Cyprus, at 19 kg, or 9.9 per cent. AUSTRALIA IMPORTED ALMOST ALL (99 %) OF THE QUANTITIES AVAILABLE!

Because the deaths involving Tramadol (now a controlled drug) in 2014 were almost identical t () o those of Co-proxamol during 2007 the MHRA appears to have gained absolutely nothing regarding their objective of reducing suicide while causing worldwide misery to millions of patients!

Surely it’s now time to reconsider the fact that Co-proxamol was and is a far superior medication when compared to Tramadol and the manufacture of Dextropropoxyphene must be restarted immediately!

2007 Deaths where co-proxamol was mentioned on death certificates (UK):
242 (Classification De-licenced)

2014 Deaths where Tramadol was mentioned on death certificates (UK):
240 (Classification Controlled)

There is no doubt that more patients would have benefited if Co-proxamol had been given the same “controlled classification back in 2007 and the deaths from co-proxamol poisoning would have continued to fall!

Summary

On 15th December 2005 the MHRA stated, “I can confirm that the two most useful references which informed the Working Group on different methods of analgesia were the 'Bandolier review' and the 'Australian Acute Musculoskeletal Pain Guideline.” (Later rescinded)

Example of Bandolier: -

‘Bandolier’ tries to find examples of systematic reviews where there is a solid take-home message. After all, we are familiar with uncertainty, and systematic reviews that merely bleat, often inadequately, about inadequacies of research are rather depressing. The trouble is that people use phrases like 'evidence-based medicine', or 'meta-analysis' or 'systematic review' as some form of talisman. Attach one of these phrases to a point of view and an argument is won!

That fails to take into account the fact that reviews can be awful, and even completely wrong. Often systematic reviews try to cover too much ground, and end giving us too superficial a view of a problem. And even the best of reviews of good studies can leave us in the lurch when there are not enough good studies.

Reference: - http:/­/­www.medicine.ox.ac.uk/­bandolier/­b.

“GPs demanded a U-turn on the co-proxamol ban.” The magazine (Pulse) reported its own survey, which showed that 70 per cent of GP's and 94 per cent of Rheumatologists demanded that the MHRA revisit its decision. THEIR REQUEST WAS TOTALLY IGNORED.

My Personal Opinion “The Truth Was Out There”

Despite my best efforts there appears to have been no cohesion at all between the NHS departments, MMG’s CCG’s DOH, MHRA, ACMD, or the Home Office.

I've previously contacted these departments the APPG Secretariat and many of the organisations who originally disputed the MHRA’s decision to remove the licence for Co-proxamol at the end of 2007. My MP Paul Maynard answered my request by simply quoting the misinformation from MHRA and declined my request for a meeting at one of his surgeries. I've also submitted several ‘Freedom of Information’ requests since my prescription for co-proxamol was cancelled during November 2015.

Despite all the false information being distributed from all the Government departments I have contacted the simple truth was: - BECAUSE OF THE COMPLETE INCOMPETENCE OF THE MHRA / DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT SUPPLIES OF DEXTROPROPOXYPHENE AVAILABLE (WORLDWIDE) TO CONTINUE WITH THE REGULAR PRODUCTION OF CO-PROXAMOL!

What has been the financial cost to Government for all the different organisations to dispense all this misinformation? MHRA should just admit they were totally responsible for this ‘ALMIGHTY COCK UP’ and apologise to the millions of patients they have left in complete misery and caused them serious harm!

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well dammit that didn't work out right and I misspelled precious, bad day....bad millinium...anywy, I am a staunch supporter of propoxyphene, whether it be darvon darvocet (anyone know what the n stood for? My mother took this medication for 50 damn years, i took it for 20, while I was on it and it alone...my life flourished, I never developed a tolerance, nvr increased my dosage, darvon did something in my brain that made something that wasn't working...work, it was a miracle drug for me and they...outlaw it, PERFECT!!! nvr mind the liver toxin that is in nearly every damn thing there is,(acetaminophen) Ever hear of levo dromoran? same story, but the FDA allows a drug on the market that was so dangerous, the manufacturer took it off b4 the FDA noticed a thing...VIOXX, that s*** nearly killed me and has destroyed my life...FDA...stick w/ food, and let the people be? we're not stupid and we're fed up, you ppl are ALL ABOUT MONEY- f*** the "war" on drugs...btw, the most costly war ever in history. Stick w/ methadone and leave our dr.s alone. Believe it or not, not everyone who doesn't have a choice, is a drug addict, chronic pain=drug addict=risk=licence=all my money, f*** 'em...after all if they're in that much pain they'll end it themselves and we won't be bothered..problem solved, we get 'em coming and going, lets not forget who invented opium and marijuana in the first place, it damn sure wasn't you.

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I'm giving up a LOT of very precios time I have left to do just that...BUT I CANNOT GET ANY ORGANIZED Solidarity behind me!!!!

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I still have a half a bottle of darvocet I itch on all other pain pills but darvocet and I severe back pain so when I'm at my worst I take it they need to bring it back had darvocet in my 20s I'm 58 now don't have any heart problems all pills have causes of this and that I need my darvocet and when I'm out I'll have to and my life I'm that bad

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McNeil must own the FDA, banning darvon/darvocet/sk65 whatever, which gave me quality of life and not one single side effect....ver, but acetaminophen which is the #1 cause of acute liver failure in this country, is not only legal...its in everything! no wonder there were all the tylenol murders in the....what was it? the 70's....anyway tylenol NEEDS to be banned, stop buying it, but it has become such a trusted family liver toxin people wont listen, like the fda, they are responsible for so much death, but money is the factor isn't it. How hard would i be, for an experienced chemist to just make it, to hell w/ fda, its gotta be available somewhere in the world. THNX 4 THE Poison fda, u took darvon off the market cuz it worked, and had aged in the face of all the nightmare toxins (new kids on the block and billions of $$$) were not all stupid americans, TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK!!! BAN THE FDA!!!!

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I agree. I have rx's not good for stomach but still prescribed. Darvocet worked great without issues. In pain every day need something better than trampoline. Probably a money thing.

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Can you ever point a time when the government were ever FOR us? I cannot. I am 53 with severe cervical and lumbar spinal stenosis, bulging disks, and neuropathy not associated with diabetes. I can get nothing, absolutely nothing prescribed for pain. Tried tramadol, that made my blood pressure dangerously high and caused heart palpitations. I work as a transcriptionist, so I spend many hours a day sitting. Darvocet allowed me to work just fine and then helped me sleep at night. Now, I work in extreme pain and cannot sleep. But, you have to be out of work for an entire year now in order to even apply for disability. I cannot do that, I would go under. But, perhaps that is what our lovely government want. More people to go under, under the bridges with the Veterans and mentally ill, who are treated like criminals. I am disgusted with the government. Love my country. Fear my government.

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I completely agree. Darvocet was perfect. If u find something that works as well.. Please post

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I have had many back surgeries and was on the duragesic patch and taking hydrocodone at the same time. The pain was very intense and was on it for quite a while. I had problems with remembering things and became a little foggy in remembering where I went.I told my doctor that I no longer wanted to be on hydrocodone so he switched me to darvocet. It was perfect no problems only enough pain relief as needed and no side effects whatsoever. I do not like to take medication, but darvocet was right on the money. They took it off the market and I tried over the counter Tylenol for a while but all it did was messed up my stomach so I stop taking everything altogether. At this point I have decided not to take anything at all that way I don't have to beyond any medication and know exactly how I feel at all times.I would be very interested however when I do have bad days what kind of medication other people have tried that works as well as darvocet.

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Hello I'm Kenneth and it might be somewhat helpful but when taking meds everyone is different myself been on darvocet and tramadol and it only hurt me by eating my stomach lining up so for a year i had to watch what i eat and drink i also use to drink alcohol some to but that had to stop so I'm still sober now but id get a lowdose painmed minus the 325mg of Tylenol just a med like roxycodone 5mg to a 30mg but they might not be able to handle opiates but they should be able to take it cause tramadol is a low dose opiate. I'm not sure on darvocet but I'm sure it is in the percocet family now a lot of ppl are against this one drug that is safer than alcohol cigarettes an pain meds its been proved to help save lives, stop cancer cells in there tracks, and helps about every pain issue with a persons body and that's medical cannabis. I'm not a big cannabis fan but if i had a choice between medical cannabis id take it i have tried it and it does work great with no withdrawls or bad side effects - one exception, you will eat more than you normally would but that also differs from one persion to another hope this helps a little thanks Ken

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The only thing behind the removal of darvocet is money. They knew they could make more money on other drugs and they do not care about people at all. We need to address the fact that the FDA is just another corrupt government group that we can no longer trust. Time to demand they be done away with. We, the people, pay for the FDA and they no longer have our best interest as a priority. Time has proven that darvocet is safe and effective.

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It made it possible for me to work too. i have been on disability now for a long time as everything else just makes me drasy or just doesn't cover the pain. I had a good routine going there with Darvocet. I don't know who benefitted by taking this off the market but I am sure that a lot of people are now burdening the government by not working that used to be able to with this drug. Makes no sense. I was just as infuriated when they took my asthma inhaler off the market supposedly for "ozone reason." HAHAHA the substitute was garbage and no one was breathing when attacks occured. But SOMETHING happened there. After anout 9 months or so, we got out inhalers back like Ventolin that will kill the ozone layer all by themselves. The cost went up a billion percent, but we got it. Ayone know what happened there and if the same method cN be applied for darvocet? I'm on a low dosage of methadone, it's weak. I've tried the patch, it was filled with side effects my body couldn't handle (like low blood pressure making me collapse, and now I take 10 mcg of oxycodone but I can't take it at night cuz it keeps me up! And it's not as good as darvocet imo. My doc wants to try tramadol but that drug looks way too scary. Don't need anyother drug that comes with serious withdrawals if you want to get off of it, as well as depression considering i finally got off my ssri and don't want to chance thiings.

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I too took Darvocet for my Fibromyalgia pain. Since the ban, my life has been miserable. I could function almost normally on Darvocet but now with Talwin, my blood pressure shot to over 200! It gives me headaches and heart palpatations. The Darvocet never did that. The FDA got paid off by someone and I'll never believe any different. The government has turned on us and has made us pariahs just because we suffer with pain.

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I had been on Darvocet for nearly 30 yrs because of a shattered femur and complex regional pain syndrome. Studies in England suggested that Darvocet was no better than aspirin or tylenol for treating pain. However, like most of you, Darvocet alieved the my pain. In my reading, it seems that Darvocet is a derivative of Methadone and it works better than Darvocet. My wife takes Methadone for her arthritis but I don't. Instead I have found that pentazocine naxalone (Talwin nx which is a schedule 4 controlled substance works well for me). Doctors are more willing to prescribe it rather than other narcotics because it has naxalone so that It can't be dissolved and injected by addicts. However the small amount of naxalone in pentazocine is digested it the stomach without messing up the pain relieving function. Hence, there is little chance of abuse.

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Actually tramadol is commonly used to TREAT narcotic withdraws.

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I took took Darvocet for many years as needed for pain. I have severe scoliosis the onset of which began after I turned 60. I am now 80 and the scoliosis has progressed a great deal as has my degenerative disc disease. I am in constant pain but only took Darvocet when I absolutely could not continue without relief. I'd been prescribed just about everything else but only Darvocet even touched the pain. I never had more than one prescription for 60 Darvocet in any one year and always had some left after it expired. That's how rarely I took it. I also never had any heart problems until just this year. Of course I don't expect to live many more years but really all I want is Darvocet back so that I don't have to live my last years in unrelenting pain.

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Miss darvocet term a dog does not work it just gives me headaches and makes me nauseated there is a barbiturate on the prescription regiment that does work it's called Fioricet. It's mainly designed to help migraine headaches but it does help me with my back with a combination of muscle relaxers!!! But there's nothing on the market that was like darvocet

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I have intermittent back pain and cannot take other narcotics. Since Darvocet with withdrawn, the only withdrawal symptom I experienced was an ULCER from taking too much Ibuprofen for my pain. I'd love to know how to LEGALLY get darvocet again. I never took it every day, but when I needed relief, it was a GODSEND. Now, I face the rest of my life in pain... because I can't take most NSAIDS (aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen) due to the ulcer risk and Tylenol doesn't do anything for my pain in safe doses. I can't take most antidpressants without my world heaving all the time and the inability to think straight (these are given as pain killer substitutes). I can't take other narcotics, they make me sick to the stomach, don't give much pain relief and make me 'loopy'...

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I cannot for the life of me understand, all of us that used Darvocet and had no problems, no one or organization cannot stand up to the FDA to get our Darvocet back--the millions of people left in pain, and there just giving a blind eye to the whole thing. It is like the world just stopped--all we do is go from one site to another to complain. I cannot take any other pain med but Darvocet-I get very sick--I just don't understand how the government can keep running over us like this. Will some one come forward and take them on--it has been done before--look how many people would be behind them--our petition didn't do s***. What about these groups that argue against the government--because they are doing the people wrong

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I'm a 17 year RA patient whose life has been totally turned upside down by the darvocet ban. I love how the FDA can just take away medications because of people's lack of responsibility to not abuse them! I took it for 17 years. No withdrawals and a clear head when I had to use them. Nothing else works, not even close. I credit darvocet for giving me my life back. Now I'm seriously considering going back on disability because of inability to maintain normal working hours. I have tried everything. Its amazing how one "so called" consumer protection group had the ability to force the FDA to ban it. Our government at work!

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