Greetings, Dr. Roach What became of Darvon? I never heard any explanation for its withdrawal other than the fact that it didn’t work, and it wasn’t expensive or addictive. When they took it away, I ended up taking Oxycontin because anything else that wasn’t more harmful made me throw up. It really did work for me!
I suffer from fibromyalgia. I was unable to continue doing cardio and lifting weights after having my baby. If I had Darvon, I’m sure I could stop taking Oxycontin. — K.T.
ANSWER: Propoxyphene, often known as Darvon, is an opiate-class analgesic that shares structural similarities with methadone. Although the drug was previously prohibited in the UK and Europe, it was removed from the US market in 2010.
It didn’t work, thus it wasn’t withdrawn. As your letter demonstrates, it did work for some people, but overall it was more toxic and didn’t function any better than any other opiate. After research revealed the medication’s risk for severe cardiac toxicity, the Food and Drug Administration decided to take it off the market.
At the time, an expert claimed that it was the worst drug ever and that no single substance had ever killed so many people. Naturally, this was prior to fentanyl, which in 2023 alone claimed almost 70,000 lives in the United States.
Since nothing else has worked as well for you, I can appreciate your displeasure. Treating fibromyalgia can be challenging. However, the majority of fibromyalgia treatment specialists advise against using any opiate, including Oxycontin, for an extended period of time. Every opiate has the potential to develop into a habit.
The mainstays of treatment include non-pharmacologic approaches, including as exercise, diet, psychological therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy, and close monitoring of sleep patterns. When it comes to fibromyalgia, medications are not very successful. Medication for fibromyalgia is not beneficial enough for more than a few months for less than half of patients. However, medications that treat pain and sleep, such as venlafaxine, gabapentin, and amitriptyline, may be helpful.
This might be really beneficial if you haven’t consulted a fibromyalgia or pain medication specialist.
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Greetings, Dr. Roach I am 78 years old, in generally good health, and neither overweight nor diabetic. As a treat, I frequently experience cravings for both wonderful and unpleasant things. Which do you believe is worse for a person, a 4-ounce glass of Irish cream liqueur or a 12-ounce can of soda?
Even though I was considering the calories, fat, and sugar, trying to pick the least bad decision felt overwhelming. Don’t tell me I need a glass of tea, please. I am already aware of this. — D.B.
ANSWER: Well, I go with the soda because you’re insistent that I pick between the two. There are 22 grams of sugar, 14 grams of fat, and 19 grams of alcohol in four ounces of Irish cream liqueur. This is healthier than the 39 grams of sugar (but no fat or alcohol) in a standard 12-ounce can of soda, in my opinion.
Nevertheless, I wouldn’t condemn you if you wanted to sometimes indulge in Irish cream liqueur at the age of 78, although I might suggest a 2-ounce portion instead.
Although he regrets not being able to respond to each letter individually, Dr. Roach will try to include them in the column. Questions can be sent by mail to 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803 or by email to [email protected].
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