PROPOXYPHENE

(pro POX i feen) Brand: Darvon, Darvon-N

What is the most significant information I must know about propoxyphene?

• Propoxyphene was withdrawn from the U.S. market in November 2010.

• Do not use this medicine if you have a history of suicidal thoughts or actions. Propoxyphene must never be taken together with a sedative (such as Valium or Xanax) or an antidepressant if you are also drinking big amounts of alcohol.

• Propoxyphene may be habit-forming and should be used only by the face it was predesigned for. Hold the medicine in a secure seat where others can't get to it.

• Do not drink alcohol while you are taking propoxyphene. Dangerous side effects or death can occur when alcohol is combined with a narcotic pain medication. Check your food and medication labels to be certain these commodity do not contain alcohol.

• Never take more than your predesigned doze of propoxyphene. Tell your doctor if the medication seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.

• Propoxyphene can reason side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

• Do not stop using propoxyphene suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Conversation to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication.

What is propoxyphene?

• Propoxyphene was withdrawn from the U.S. market in November 2010.

• Propoxyphene is in a group of drugs called narcotic pain relievers.

• Propoxyphene is used to relieve mild to temperate pain.

• Propoxyphene may also be used for another purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I speak my healthcare provider till taking propoxyphene?

• Do not use this medicine if you have a history of suicidal thoughts or actions. Propoxyphene must never be taken together with a sedative (such as Valium or Xanax) or an antidepressant if you are also drinking big amounts of alcohol.

• Propoxyphene may be habit-forming and must be used only by the face it was predesigned for. Never share propoxyphene with other face, especially somebody with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Hold the medicine in a seat where others can't get to it.

• If you have any of these another conditions, you may need a doze adjustment or particular tests:

· asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, or another breathing disorders;

· liver or kidney disease;

· a history of head injury or brain tumor;

· mental diseases; or

· a history of drug or alcohol addiction.

• FDA pregnancy category C. This medicine may be deleterious to an unborn child, and could reason breathing problems or addiction/withdrawal symptoms in a newborn. Speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

• Propoxyphene passes into breast milk and could harm a nursing child. Do not use this medicine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

• Older adults may be more sensitive to the effects of this medicine.

How must I take propoxyphene?

• Take this medicine exactly as it was predesigned for you. Never take propoxyphene in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Tell your doctor if the medication seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.

• Take every doze with a full glass of water.

• Take propoxyphene with food or milk if it upsets your stomach.

• Do not stop using propoxyphene suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Conversation to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication.

• Store propoxyphene at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

• Hold track of the amount of medication used from every new bottle. Propoxyphene is a drug of abuse and you must be aware if anyone is using your medication improperly or without a prescription.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Since propoxyphene is taken as needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are taking the medicine regularly, take the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not use extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of propoxyphene can be fatal, especially if you are also drinking alcohol or taking a sedative or antidepressant.

• Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, pinpoint or dilated pupils, confusion, cool and clammy skin, blue lips, weak pulse, slow or uneven heart course, shallow breathing, fainting, or breathing that stops.

What must I avoid while taking propoxyphene?

• Do not drink alcohol. Dangerous side effects or death can occur when alcohol is combined with a narcotic pain medication. Check your food and medication labels to be certain these commodity do not contain alcohol.

• Propoxyphene may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

• Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with propoxyphene and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit commodity with your doctor. Do not magnify or decrease the amount of grapefruit commodity in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

What are the possible side effects of propoxyphene?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

· shallow breathing, slow heartbeat;

· feeling light-headed, fainting;

· confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior;

· seizure (convulsions); or

· jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

• Smaller serious side effects include:

· feeling dizzy or drowsy;

· nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, constipation;

· headache, muscle pain;

· blurred vision; or

· mild skin rash.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect propoxyphene?

• Do not take propoxyphene with another narcotic pain medications, sedatives, tranquilizers, muscle relaxers, or another medicines that can create you sleepy or slow your breathing. Dangerous side effects may result.

• Speak your doctor about all another medicines you use, especially:

· amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone);

· aprepitant (Emend);

· bosentan (Tracleer);

· conivaptan (Vaprisol);

· dexamethasone (Decadron, Hexadrol);

· imatinib (Gleevec);

· isoniazid (for treating tuberculosis);

· St. John's wort;

· an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), dalfopristin/quinupristin (Synercid), erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate), or telithromycin (Ketek);

· antifungal medicine such as clotrimazole (Mycelex Troche), fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), or voriconazole (Vfend);

· an antidepressant such as nefazodone;

· a barbiturate such as butabarbital (Butisol), secobarbital (Seconal), pentobarbital (Nembutal), or phenobarbital (Solfoton);

· a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);

· heart or blood pressure medicine such as diltiazem (Cartia, Cardizem), felodipine (Plendil), nifedipine (Nifedical, Procardia), verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan), and others;

· HIV/AIDS medication such as atazanavir (Reyataz), delavirdine (Rescriptor), efavirenz (Sustiva), etravirine (Intelence), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), saquinavir (Invirase), or ritonavir (Norvir);

· medicines to treat narcolepsy, such as armodafanil (Nuvigil) or modafanil (Progivil); or

· seizure medicine such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol), felbamate (Felbatol), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), or phenytoin (Dilantin), or primidone (Mysoline).

• This list is not complete and another drugs may interact with propoxyphene. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about propoxyphene.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.