Darvon propoxyphene overdose/adamxml/Health Illustrated Encyclopedia/1/002537.htmDefinition

Propoxyphene is medicine used to relieve pain. Propoxyphene overdoseoccurs when someone takes too much of this medicine.

Propoxyphene hydrochloride; Dextropropoxyphene

Propoxyphene

Propoxyphene is sold under the following brand names:

  • Darvocet
  • Darvon
  • Darvon-N
  • Dolene

Note: This list may not be all-inclusive.

Seek immediate medical help. DO NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by Poison Control or a health care professional.

Determine the following information:

  • The patient's age, weight, and condition
  • The name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)
  • The time it was swallowed
  • The amount swallowed
  • If the medication was prescribed for the patient

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.

See: Poison control center - emergency number

The health care provider will measure and monitor the patient's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure.

The patient may receive:

  • Fluids by IV
  • Activated charcoal
  • Medicine to block the effect of propoxyphene on the central nervous system (Such medicine is called a narcotic antagonist)
  • Tube thru the nose into the stomach to empty the stomach ( gastric lavage)

Symptoms, including heart rhythm disturbances and seizures, will be treated as appropriate.

If the proper narcotic antagonist can be given, recovery from an acuteoverdose occurs within 24 - 48 hours.

dextropropoxypheneDextropropoxyphene is an analgesic in the opioid category. It is used to treat mild to moderate pain and as an anti-tussive. It can be used to ease surgical pain both prophylactically and palliatively. It is possible to classify it as a mild opioid pain-killer, however it is considered no more effective than aspirin in treating pain. Dextropropoxyphene is sometimes combined with paracetamol or aspirin. Trade-names include Darvocet-N for dextropropoxyphene and paracetamol and Darvon-N with ASA for dextropropoxyphene and aspirin. It is also sometimes sold in combination with caffeine in order to boost pain control. There is no peer-reviewed evidence that this combination is any more effective than paracetamol alone. There is significant anecdotal evidence from patients that Darvocet is more effective than paracetamol, but a third of patients suffering chronic pain report relief from that pain when treated with placebo. It is manufactured and marketed by Eli Lilly and Company. It is an optical isomer of levopropoxyphene. The racemic mixture is called propoxyphene. Some preparations that contain dextropropoxyphene include Distalgesic and Doloxene. Dextropropoxyphene, like codeine, is a "weak" opioid. Codeine is more commonly used; however, some individuals are unable to metabolize it, due to poor functioning of the enzyme CYP2D6. It is in these people that dextropropoxyphene is particularly useful, as its metabolism does not require CYP2D6. Propoxyphene has been found to be helpful in relieving the symptoms of Restless legs syndrome . In pure form, dextropropoxyphene is commonly used to ease the withdrawal symptoms in people addicted to opioids. Being very weak in comparison to the opioids that are commonly abused, dextropropoxyphene can only act as a "partial" substitute. It does not have much effect on mental cravings; however it can be effective in alleviating physical withdrawal effects, such as muscle cramps. Dextropropoxyphene is subject to some controvdextropropoxyphenehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dextropropoxyphenehealth 100.00dextropropoxyphene How is a Darvon cocktail made and used? First, let me preface this by saying: I am NOT interested in actually trying this! I'm writing a screenplay where a character is suicidal and tries this. Answers from an actual doctor on the methods and (more importantly to my story) effects of the Darvon cocktail would be greatly appreciated. 2007-06-04 23:32:53 1181025173 http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20070604233253AAEJBld Medicine 5x38RWE6aa Isaac http://l.yimg.com/img.avatars.yahoo.com/users/1jZSEyFSHAAECrIJ6oJP6OCSdJQ==.medium.jpg 2 0 Darvon is commonly used to commit suicide in a combination of others drugs, known as a Darvon cocktail. Dextropropoxyphene (Darvon) is used as a pain killer because it is an opiate. Given this, it lowers blood pressure and suppresses breathing. Therefore, when taken in a Darvon cocktail, the person will fall asleep until eventually they stop breathing. An over dose of the drug will stop breathing anyway so you dont need anything else... b08a3d3c59abc7f42597e0811d45a97eaa easygoing 1181025919 1181890346 What do I do if someone is attempting to make a Darvon Cocktail? My 'sister' gets really depressed and suicidal and the other day she mentioned that she was attempting to make this darvon cocktail the last time I talked to her. She may have already tryed this cocktail. What should I do? I read about it but it says you need to exact measurements to work. She's not answering her phone and we have different parents. Unfortunately her parents don't really care about her and she hasn't talked to them in years. I'm like the only one she talks to but I have my on problems but she's like means so much to me. What do I do? Should I stay the night with her? 2007-02-02 20:35:01 1170477301 http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20070202203501AAMewon Other - Health AA11563464 rbr_difranco http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/sch/gr2/nophoto3_48x48.gif 2 0 If she isn't answering the phone and is suicidal try calling 911. 7fd1e26c1d33580417bf2ccf5d1bc71baa Shar 1170477479 1172384548 How much darvon should i take? I have a HUGE headache! Its darvon- N 100. Im about 125 lbs will two be okay? 2008-04-25 21:30:13 1209184213 http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20080425213013AAyNnWt Pain & Pain Management CYo4l5mDaa imkungfoo4yoo http://l.yimg.com/img.avatars.yahoo.com/users/1c2Cq6srwAAADsKKSbJKZhM42Iw==.medium.jpg 1 0 It might be ok to take 2 but I would recommend checking with your pharmacist as well to see what they say. 9pLdhuBnaa sokokl 1209205697 1210734179 How exactly do I make a Darvon Cocktail? I know the ingredients, but I need to know the dosages. Does anyone know what they are? I am tried google and the like. 2006-12-12 12:22:03 1165954923 http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20061212122203AA3L8yY Alternative Medicine 3cd36d14e647431f9f6113e5463a1abbaa Terry H http://l.yimg.com/img.avatars.yahoo.com/users/1DfErVio1AAEDXWFetIydQTueiXT5TA==.medium.jpg 2 0 Please do not try to do this. Darvon (propoxyphene) is a dangerous drug that can cause seizures and other neurotoxic effects if used incorrectly. d932d2c2b8f74b665bf8d40ad63d994faa Dr. Okram 1165957580 1166626946 Can you tell me how long darvon will be detected by a urine test? I am changing jobs,, I have a prescription but I really don't want to explain myself to them.... will taking lasix and drinking lots of water help flush this from my system? 2008-08-31 12:46:29 1220211989 http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20080831124629AA2nAAq Pain & Pain Management Vyw9fsFkaa patrotjon http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/sch/gr2/nophoto3_48x48.gif 1 0 Well opiates are traditionally 3 to 4 or 5 days, but are usually gone in 72 hours. Propoxyphene (Darvon) is two compounds propoxy and propoxy-N and this might make the drug take a little longer to get out of you. And if you been taking it for awhile it does build up to a degree. Oh, and the water will work and yes you are completely better off not telling them about it, than they think crazy stuff. QYTBOQVvaa Sabbathmusic 1220212488 1220228744 How much Darvon will intoxicate a 250 pound man? Enough to make me sleepy. I have a high tolerance for sedating drugs. I have taken 400mg before and didn't really notice it, but I don't want to die either! 2006-09-05 19:41:26 1157510486 http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20060905194126AAlABiN Other - General Health Care 305b7f2b678ea40767b33f1cc54dd9f8aa johnasks http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/sch/gr2/nophoto3_48x48.gif 5 0 Be carefull with Darvon and Darvocet, they are weak painkillers but in fact their metabolites (end products after your body works on it) are known to be very sedating without a high--- so in fact we do not use this medications in older patients as the metabolits are quite sedating, your weight here does not matter but try to lose some somehow dude. 2c67d0b5c34e310c252c38cbd9fa142faa The Doctor 1157511178 1157590801 Is darvocet/ Darvon the weakest narcotic pain reliever? If it is why did give it to my mother when she was in severe pain after broken leg? She had no idea that it was a weak pain reliver, she was in severe pain. 2008-07-17 15:29:50 1216333790 http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20080717152950AAtOuoQ Pain & Pain Management kHd0I2Yuaa Toad http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/sch/gr2/nophoto3_48x48.gif 3 0 It is one of the weakest. I'm suprised with a boken bone they only gave her Darvocet. I would tell her to call her doctor and tell him/her that she is still in severe pain and it is not working. The doctor is the only one that can perscribe something different. I'm sure he/she had reasons to give her Darvocet first but that doesn't mean he won't perscribe her something stronger. She does have a broken bone so she obviously has legtimate pain. Good luck!!! DKVqhDx8aa KB23 1216335962 1216402225 I took a urine test and the doctor called and told me that i had high levels of darvon in my system. I never? took a darvon in my life. What other drug will show up as darvon. I am on a prescription for lomotil. I am also on a prescription for Hydrocodone. They keep on insisting that darvon is in my system. 2007-03-26 09:56:52 1174928212 http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20070326095652AAk2r8P Medicine AA11211672 danielnoonisnumber1 http://l.yimg.com/img.avatars.yahoo.com/users/1DJGkdA6uAAECQWEo8AceAQ==.medium.jpg 2 0 The answer is simple.I am a lead pharm. tech going to school to become a rph.lomotil is an antidiarreah medicine very closely related to the opiate narcotic meperidine. meperidine (or demerol) is even more closely related to propoxyphene.(although meperidine is a much stronger sythetic opiate) propoxyphene is the synthetic opiate narcotic found in darvon and darvacet.with the combination of hydrocodone and lomotil it will show you positive for propoxyphene since there actually is a synthetic narcotic present.tell your doctor to run a quanatative qualatative blood drug test.this more than likely will clear up any issues.I hope you found this answer helpfull explain this to your doctors.I am not going to say doctors dont know medicine that well but very little of their scholling involves medicine thats what the pharmacist goes to school for.doctors although they know what a medcine does they arent as quick to know what happens once its inside your body.but again its just because of the lomotil hydrocodone combination and that blood test has a 99.9% chance of clearing everything up.but make sure you tell him you want a quanatative qualatative test. Also be sure to explain to your doctor the that lomotil does have a synthetic narcotic in it.in case for whatever reason he is unaware of that.if he is unaware find a new doctor.lol. AA11433733 wu_warrior_69 1174929173 1174950308 is there a better way to take propoxyphene (darvon, darvocet) than orally? i took 400mg and didnt feel it (or rather did, in terms of pain) and im wondering if snorting or smoking it would be more effective. the bottle says 100mg but ive been increasing because of less than satisfactory results. i just took 500 the other night and the high level of apap is starting to get dangerous w/ no results so im quitting, thanks for your help all 2008-08-10 18:37:29 1218418649 http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20080810183729AA7qFzf Pain & Pain Management GaTxFHIpaa that guy http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/sch/gr2/nophoto3_48x48.gif 1 0 DO NOT SNORT IT OR SMOKE IT. You need to let your doctor know that the medication is not working for you. It is never good to smoke or smoke a pill that is prescribed orally for pain. You never know how your body will react and it can be potentially deadly. I hope the doctor is able to help you with your pain control. Good luck. K1cCO2qEaa tulla 1218419373 1218938036 Will i get addicted to darvon? I was prescribed darvon n and i am scared to take it. Will it get me "high?" I heard people get addicted to it. 2007-09-28 13:35:36 1191011736 http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20070928133536AAJcqPZ Other - Health rBR5xZfMaa Mii http://l.yimg.com/img.avatars.yahoo.com/users/1E8xAavq4AAEC-AFfGI3oosp0oVN8iw==.medium.jpg 2 0 Darvon is a synthetic opiate and yes, it can be addictive. I was in rehab for opiate dependancy and Darvon was prescribed to help me come off of the harder narcotic drugs I had been abusing (such as Vicodin, Percocet, etc). If you are prone to addictive behaviors, let your doctor know. Otherwise just dont take more than what was prescribed and dont take it for any longer than you need to. 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