In an effort to preserve the public health, the Food and Drug Administration issued a propoxyphene recall last November, which sparked a wave of Darvon and Darvocet lawsuits against the distributor of the two drugs, Xanodyne Pharmaceutical, Inc. But while the FDA may have prevented drug companies from manufacturing and marketing Darvon and Darvocet, frequent reports of illicit activity involving the pain medications shows that they are still available on the black market at perhaps a greater risk to users.

A simple Google search query for Darvocet turns up numerous reports of individuals being arrested in possession of the drug, including:

* On March 2011 in Genesee Country, New York, a man was arrested and charged with possession of controlled substances that included Darvocet.

* Earlier this month Shreveport, Louisiana police seized hundreds of pills, including 100 Darvocet tablets, from a suspect and charged him with possession with intent to distribute.

* On April 15 police in Polk Country, Florida arrested and charged a woman with illegal sale of prescription drugs. She possessed Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, Morphine, and Darvocet.

Literally dozens of such accounts involving illegal Darvocet possession and/or distribution can be found in police blotters across the nation, and they underscore an important point about the drug. Propoxyphene is an opioid and like other controlled substances in this class, carries risks of abuse and dependence. In fact, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) names Darvon as one of the nations ten most abused drugs. And while the FDAs recall of Darvon and Darvocet means the medications are no longer available by prescription, black market buyers still have access to them, as demonstrated by crime reports.

Propoxyphene was recalled due to its cardiac toxicity, which can cause abnormal heart rhythm, heart attack, and stroke. In explaining its decision to ban the drug, the FDA cited the fact that it can cause heart complications at prescribed dosages in healthy patients. This supports the contention of longtime critics of the drug, who pushed for its ban in large part because research suggested it is toxic at doses only slightly above the recommended dose. If this is true among a population taking the drug under close medical supervision, then imagine the consequences when propoxyphene is consumed by a group of people who are taking it for recreational purposes. Such individuals stand a strong chance of abusing the drug and overdosing, not to mention any contraindications, such as the use of depressants, that could make the use of Darvon or Darvocet even more dangerous.

Darvon and Darvocet were bestselling drugs for decades, and hundreds of millions of prescriptions were written for the pain relievers. This means that untold quantities of them can still be found in homes and storage facilities across the country and that it could take years before supplies are exhausted. Until they are, propoxyphene remains a significant health threat to many, despite the governments action to restrict its availability.

If you were prescribed a form of propoxyphene for pain and suffered a cardiac injury, the Rottentstein Law Group wants to hear about it. We are in the process of reviewing claims on behalf of clients nationwide, and are committed to defending the rights of those injured by this dangerous drug. We believe that Xanodyne provided insufficient warning of Darvon and Darvocet, and that this negligence entitles injured users of the drugs to compensation.