Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: DARVOCET versus ROXICET.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: DARVOCET versus ROXICET.
DARVOCET vs ROXICET
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Darvocet is a combination of propoxyphene, a mu-opioid receptor agonist that alters perception of and response to pain, and acetaminophen, which inhibits COX enzymes and modulates descending serotonergic pathways.
Roxicet is a combination of oxycodone, a full mu-opioid receptor agonist, and acetaminophen, which inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, primarily in the central nervous system, to reduce pain perception and fever.
1 tablet (propoxyphene 100 mg / acetaminophen 650 mg) orally every 4 hours as needed for pain; maximum 6 tablets per day.
1-2 tablets (oxycodone 5-10 mg/acetaminophen 325-650 mg) orally every 4-6 hours as needed for pain; maximum acetaminophen 4000 mg/day (3000 mg/day in high-risk patients).
None Documented
None Documented
Propoxyphene: 6-12 hours (parent), 30-36 hours (norpropoxyphene). Acetaminophen: 1-4 hours (therapeutic doses). Accumulation of norpropoxyphene occurs with repeated dosing.
Oxycodone: 3-5 hours (immediate-release); prolonged in hepatic/renal impairment. Acetaminophen: 2-3 hours.
Propoxyphene: primarily hepatic metabolism to norpropoxyphene, renal excretion of metabolites (<1% unchanged). Acetaminophen: renal excretion of conjugates (85-90%) and unchanged drug (2-4%).
Primarily renal (90% as glucuronide conjugates, <10% unchanged). Biliary/fecal excretion is minor (<5%).
Category C
Category C
Opioid Analgesic Combination
Opioid Analgesic Combination