Darvon is the brand name for the oral medication propoxyphene hydrochloride, which is available only with a doctor's prescription. Commonly used to treat mild or moderate pain, Darvon belongs to the narcotic opioid analgesic class of drugs.

Function

Darvon works by binding to opioid receptors within your brain, which in turn prevents signals of pain from being delivered from your nerves to your brain. Because it acts on the brain itself, Darvon is capable of alleviating mild to moderate pain from any cause, such as illness, disease or surgery.

Dosage

Doctors commonly prescribe 65 mg of Darvon for use every four hours, with use continuing until the source of the pain is resolved, explains the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Time Frame

Because Darvon has the potential to cause addiction, doctors typically wean patients from the drug by decreasing the dosage by 25 to 50 percent per day in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms. When they do occur, withdrawal symptoms typically fade within five to 14 days and include a runny nose, abdominal cramping and occasional diarrhea, reports the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Warning

Darvon has the potential to cause respiratory depression, a life-threatening condition where your brain is unable to properly regulate your breathing. The risk of respiratory depression increases when you combine Darvon with another medication that slows down your nervous system, such as alcohol, sedatives, tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, antidepressants and other opioid narcotics, warns the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Considerations

Because its effects upon fetal development are unknown, doctors rarely prescribe Darvon for use in pregnant women, explains the U.S. National Library of Medicine. If you have a history of substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, asthma, head injuries, emphysema, lung disease, gallstones, colitis, hypothyroidism or disease that affects your heart, kidneys or liver, it may not be safe for you to take Darvon, warns the Mayo Clinic.

Source:

U.S. National Library of Medicine Daily Med: DARVON-N (propoxyphene napsylate) tablet, film coated

Mayo Clinic: Narcotic Analgesics - For Pain Relief (Oral Route, Parenteral Route, Rectal Route)