Darvocet is a brand name for a combination drug known as propoxyphene napsylate and acetaminophen. This prescription medication is indicated for pain ranging from mild to moderate, whether accompanied by fever or not. The propoxyphene in Darvocet is a narcotic pain reliever, notes Drugs.com, and acetaminophen acts to reduce fever while complementing the pain relief impact of propoxyphene. Darvocet has been on the market since December 1972 and doctors can prescribe either Darvocet-N 50, which contains 50 mg of propoxyphene napsylate, or Darvocet-N 100 or Darvocet A500, which both contain 100 mg of that chemical.
Pain and Fever Reduction
Darvocet is intended to be a pain and fever reduction medication. The prescribing information for Darvocet mentions that propoxyphene, a mild, centrally acting narcotic painkiller, is two-thirds as potent as codeine. Acetaminophen is an effective antipyretic, or fever reducing medication. The combination of propoxyphene and acetaminophen produces a greater pain reduction effect than either medication by itself.
Nausea and Vomiting
Darvocet may cause some people to experience side effects, which include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and constipation, notes PDRhealth, the medical information website from the publishers of the Physicians' Desk Reference. Medical attention should be found as quickly as possible if any of those side effects are experienced. A doctor must decide whether to continue treatment with Darvocet if those side effects appear or worsen.
Headache and Dizziness
Darvocet's side effects may include headaches, drowsiness, dizziness and light-headeness. Some people may notice changes in vision, including blurred vision.
Swelling and Difficulty Breathing
Some of the most serious effects of Darvocet occur when a person has an allergic reaction to the drug. If the face, tongue, lips or throat become swollen, or if breathing becomes difficult, or hives appear, this constitutes a medical emergency. Seek immediate medical attention.
Shortness of Breath, Chest Pain, or Convulsions
Patients who take Darvocet may experience serious side effects including shortness of breath, shallow breathing, a reduced heart rate, chest pain, and seizures. Those signs and others such as a feeling of being about to pass out, experiencing yellowing of the eyes and skin, itching, loss of appetite, grayish stools or dark-colored urine, constitute signals to get immediate medical attention.
Dependenc and Withdrawal
Like all opioids, the propoxyphene in Darvocet has the potential to cause dependence. Taking more than the recommended dose for a long period of time can cause dependence on the drug, both psychic and physical. RxList notes that the U.S. Controlled Substances Act classifies Darvocet-N as a Schedule IV narcotic.
Those who stop treatment with Darvocet may experience effects due to withdrawal, including body pain, diarrhea, irritation of the mucous membranes of the nose, and abdominal cramping, all of which should disappear within 14 days. Sometimes a secondary phase occurs, with muscle aches, insomnia and irritability. This might last from two to six months.
