FDA Refuses To Ban Darvocet, Darvon
Darvocet, Darvon and their generic clones will remain legal in the United States â for now. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will not ban the drugs, the Associated Press reported July 8. These drugs also are available as a generic called propoxyphene. In making its decision, the FDA decision turned down a petition from the consumer group Public Citizen. The group asked for a ban because of the dangers of overdosing. Darvon alone was linked to 503 U.S. deaths in 2007. About 1 in 5 was a suicide. Doctors also say these drugs are weak pain relievers. The United Kingdom banned them a few years ago. But for now the FDA will just put a stronger warning on the package about the risk of overdose. The FDA also asked for more research by the drug maker and by U.S. veterans’ hospitals.