Last updated : July 14, 2025
Darvon® is one of the top 10 most abused prescription drugs, according to the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). They are addictive and usually not any more effective at relieving pain than aspirin. Propoxyphene is derived from opium and is categorized in the same family of drugs as morphine, heroin, OxyContin, and Fentanyl. It is also known as Darvon®, Darvocet®, Wygesic®, Balacet® or Propacet®.
Some drug users abuse propoxyphene only to tide themselves over when they cannot obtain their preferred drug, usually heroin. However, many people grow dependent on Darvon® and other products containing propoxyphene after their doctors prescribe them for pain relief, diarrhea, or restless leg syndrome. A doctor typically prescribes 65 ml of propoxyphene per day. A person who has built up a tolerance to propoxyphene can typically take 250 to 400 ml per day, putting his or her health at risk.
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When people try to quit taking propoxyphene on their own after they have been abusing it, they usually experience withdrawal symptoms similar to those produced by other opiates. These symptoms are like a terrible case of flu – muscle aches, headaches, sweats, chills, and so on, plus terrible anxiety and insomnia. Besides the actual physical symptoms, propoxyphene dependency also produces accompanying psychological problems, such as anxiety, depression, and drug cravings, which usually surface once you stop taking the drug.