Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: DARVON N versus PROPOXYPHENE HYDROCHLORIDE 65.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: DARVON N versus PROPOXYPHENE HYDROCHLORIDE 65.
DARVON-N vs PROPOXYPHENE HYDROCHLORIDE 65
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Propoxyphene is a weak mu-opioid receptor agonist that produces analgesia by binding to opioid receptors in the central nervous system, altering the perception of and response to pain. Its metabolite norpropoxyphene has local anesthetic and sodium channel blocking effects, which may contribute to cardiac toxicity.
Propoxyphene is a centrally acting opioid agonist that binds to mu-opioid receptors in the central nervous system, inhibiting pain signal transmission and altering pain perception. It also has local anesthetic effects.
100 mg orally every 4 hours as needed for pain; maximum 600 mg per day.
65 mg orally every 4 hours as needed for pain; maximum 390 mg/day.
None Documented
None Documented
Propoxyphene: 6-12 hours; norpropoxyphene: 30-36 hours. Accumulation of norpropoxyphene on repeated dosing increases risk of toxicity.
6-12 hours (mean ~8 hours); prolonged in hepatic impairment and elderly; accumulation possible with repeated dosing.
Primarily renal (approximately 70% as unchanged drug and glucuronide conjugates); minor biliary/fecal elimination (25-30%).
Renal excretion of unchanged drug (approximately 20-30%) and metabolites; approximately 40-60% as conjugated metabolites; minor biliary/fecal elimination.
Category C
Category C
Opioid Analgesic
Opioid Analgesic