Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: DARVON N versus VICODIN ES.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: DARVON N versus VICODIN ES.
DARVON-N vs VICODIN ES
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.
Hydrocodone is a mu-opioid receptor agonist; acetaminophen inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX) and modulates descending serotonergic pathways.
100 mg orally every 4 hours as needed for pain; maximum 600 mg per day.
Oral: 1 tablet (7.5 mg hydrocodone/300 mg acetaminophen) every 4-6 hours as needed for pain; maximum 6 tablets per day due to acetaminophen limit.
None Documented
None Documented
Propoxyphene: 6-12 hours; norpropoxyphene: 30-36 hours. Accumulation of norpropoxyphene on repeated dosing increases risk of toxicity.
Hydrocodone: terminal half-life approximately 3.3-4.5 hours in adults, extended in hepatic or renal impairment. Acetaminophen: terminal half-life about 2-3 hours.
Primarily renal (approximately 70% as unchanged drug and glucuronide conjugates); minor biliary/fecal elimination (25-30%).
Hydrocodone: primarily renal (urine) as unchanged drug and metabolites (O-demethylation and 6-keto-reduction products); ~26% excreted unchanged. Acetaminophen: renal (urine), ~85% as glucuronide and sulfate conjugates, ~2% unchanged.
Category C
Category C
Opioid Analgesic
Opioid Analgesic