More Drug Warnings: Multaq, Darvon, and Darvocet

More Drug Warnings: Multaq, Darvon, and Darvocet

Multaq and Liver Damage

The heart rhythm drug Multaq® has been linked to severe liver damage, liver failure, and the need for a liver transplant in some users.

What is Multaq used for?

Multaq (dronedarone) is in a class of medications called antiarrhythmics, which are designed to help the heart to beat normally.

Multaq is used to treat people who have had atrial fibrillation (a heart rhythm disorder that may cause fast and irregular heartbeat) or atrial flutter (a heart rhythm disorder that may cause the heart to beat very fast) within the past six months and who also have other conditions that increase the risk that they will develop heart problems.

Multaq is marketed as decreasing the risk that people who have these conditions will need to be hospitalized to treat heart problems.

Is Multaq dangerous?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned that some patients using Multaq have suffered severe liver injury and liver failure leading to liver transplant.

What does Multaq look like?

Multaq is a white film-coated tablet that should be taken by mouth, usually two times a day with a meal. The standard dose is 400 mg twice a day, regardless of age or weight. There is no generic version.

How many people have taken Multaq?

The FDA reported that around 492,000 prescriptions were dispensed, and around 147,000 patients filled Multaq prescriptions at outpatient retail pharmacies in the United States since 2009.

What is being done to protect consumers?

The FDA said it would add a new warning about the risk for liver damage to the label of Multaq.

The agency recommended patients should contact their doctor if they experience signs of liver injury, including nausea, vomiting, and fever. If doctors suspect toxicity issues, the patient should discontinue Multaq use and undergo a liver enzyme test.

Do I have a case?

If you took Multaq and were hospitalized with liver damage or liver failure, if you required a liver transplant, or if a loved one took Multaq and died from liver problems, contact our firm immediately.

We want to help.

The experienced lawyers at John Bales Attorneys are working to help Multaq liver damage victims get the help they need. Call us at 1-800-CALL-JOHN (1-800-225-5564) or click here to fill out a free online consultation form to learn how we may be able to help you and your loved ones.

Darvon and Darvocet Removed from Market

As of 2010, Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the maker of the painkiller drugs Darvon® and Darvocet®, has withdrawn these medications from the United States market at the request of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Why Are Darvon and Darvocet Considered Dangerous?

Darvon and Darvocet contain a chemical known as propoxyphene, which is an opioid used to treat mild to moderate pain. It was first approved by the FDA in 1957 and is sold by prescription under various names alone (e.g., Darvon), or in combination with acetaminophen (e.g., Darvocet). Propoxyphene, however, has been linked to serious heart problems.

What Is Being Done to Protect Consumers?

The FDA has requested that every drug company remove all products containing propoxyphene from the market. According to the FDA, clinical data suggested the drugs put patients at an increased risk for serious or potentially life-threatening heart rhythm abnormalities.

As a result of this data, along with other information, the FDA found that the risks posed by propoxyphene outweighed its pain management benefits.

What Symptoms Are Associated with Darvon or Darvocet Use?

The adverse symptoms of Darvon or Darvocet use include:

  • Heart attack
  • Heart failure
  • Sudden cardiac death

We Want to Help

Our law firm is reviewing cases for which objective diagnostic test reports and records are available to document a patient was taking Darvon, Darvocet, or a propoxyphene-containing drug at the time of suffering heart failure, heart attack, or sudden cardiac death. Contact us today to learn how we may be able to help.

Darvocet® and Darvon® are registered trademarks of Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and are used here to identify the products in question.

This law firm is not associated with, sponsored by, or affiliated with the Food and Drug Administration or Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

The lawyers of John Bales Attorneys believe that pharmaceutical companies should be held to the same high standards of care as medical professionals like doctors and hospitals. We believe that holding drug companies accountable for the quality and safety of their products plays a vital role in maintaining drug safety.

If you or a loved one suffers from a drug injury, contact a John Bales Florida drug injury attorney today. Complete a FREE Online Consultation Form or call us toll free 1-800-CALL JOHN (1-800-225-5564) 24 hours, 7 days a week.