Propoxyphene And Acetaminophen

Propoxyphene And Acetaminophen

Propoxyphene And Acetaminophen Recall

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Questions & Answers

Side Effects & Adverse Reactions

Risk of Overdose

There have been numerous cases of accidental and intentional overdose with propoxyphene products either alone or in combination with other CNS depressants, including alcohol. Fatalities within the first hour of overdosage are not uncommon. Many of the propoxyphene-related deaths have occurred in patients with previous histories of emotional disturbances or suicidal ideation/attempts and/or concomitant administration of sedatives, tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, antidepressants, or other CNS-depressant drugs. Do not prescribe propoxyphene for patients who are suicidal or have a history of suicidal ideation.

Respiratory Depression

Respiratory depression is the chief hazard from all opioid agonist preparations. Respiratory depression occurs most frequently in elderly or debilitated patients, usually following large initial doses in non-tolerant patients, or when opioids are given in conjunction with other agents that depress respiration. Propoxyphene napsylate and acetaminophen should be used with extreme caution in patients with significant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or cor pulmonale, and in patients having substantially decreased respiratory reserve, hypoxia, hypercapnia, or pre-existing respiratory depression. In such patients, even usual therapeutic doses of propoxyphene napsylate and acetaminophen may decrease respiratory drive to the point of apnea. In these patients alternative non-opioid analgesics should be considered, and opioids should be employed only under careful medical supervision at the lowest effective dose.

Hypotensive Effect

Propoxyphene napsylate and acetaminophen, like all opioid analgesics, may cause severe hypotension in an individual whose ability to maintain blood pressure has been compromised by a depleted blood volume, or after concurrent administration with drugs such as phenothiazines or other agents which compromise vasomotor tone. Propoxyphene napsylate and acetaminophen may produce orthostatic hypotension in ambulatory patients. Propoxyphene napsylate and acetaminophen, like all opioid analgesics, should be administered with caution to patients in circulatory shock, since vasodilatation produced by the drug may further reduce cardiac output and blood pressure.

Head Injury and Increased Intracranial Pressure

The respiratory depressant effects of narcotics and their capacity to elevate cerebrospinal fluid pressure may be markedly exaggerated in the presence of head injury, other intracranial lesions or a pre-existing increase in intracranial pressure. Furthermore, narcotics produce adverse reactions which may obscure the clinical course of patients with head injuries.

Drug Interactions

The concomitant use of propoxyphene and CNS depressants, including alcohol, can result in potentially serious adverse events including death. Because of its added depressant effects, propoxyphene should be prescribed with caution for those patients whose medical condition requires the concomitant administration of sedatives, tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, antidepressants, or other CNS-depressant drugs.

Usage in Ambulatory Patients

Propoxyphene may impair the mental and/or physical abilities required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks, such as driving a car or operating machinery. The patient should be cautioned accordingly.

Use with Other Acetaminophen-Containing Agents

Due to the potential for acetaminophen hepatotoxicity at doses higher than the recommended dose, propoxyphene napsylate and acetaminophen should not be used concomitantly with other acetaminophen-containing products.

Use with Alcohol

Hepatotoxicity and severe hepatic failure occurred in chronic alcoholics following therapeutic doses of acetaminophen. Patients should be cautioned about the concomitant use of propoxyphene products and alcohol because of potentially serious CNS-additive effects of these agents that can lead to death.

Respiratory Depression

Respiratory depression is the chief hazard from all opioid agonist preparations. Respiratory depression occurs most frequently in elderly or debilitated patients, usually following large initial doses in non-tolerant patients, or when opioids are given in conjunction with other agents that depress respiration. Propoxyphene napsylate and acetaminophen should be used with extreme caution in patients with significant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or cor pulmonale, and in patients having substantially decreased respiratory reserve, hypoxia, hypercapnia, or pre-existing respiratory depression. In such patients, even usual therapeutic doses of propoxyphene napsylate and acetaminophen may decrease respiratory drive to the point of apnea. In these patients alternative non-opioid analgesics should be considered, and opioids should be employed only under careful medical supervision at the lowest effective dose.

Hypotensive Effect

Propoxyphene napsylate and acetaminophen, like all opioid analgesics, may cause severe hypotension in an individual whose ability to maintain blood pressure has been compromised by a depleted blood volume, or after concurrent administration with drugs such as phenothiazines or other agents which compromise vasomotor tone. Propoxyphene napsylate and acetaminophen may produce orthostatic hypotension in ambulatory patients. Propoxyphene napsylate and acetaminophen, like all opioid analgesics, should be administered with caution to patients in circulatory shock, since vasodilatation produced by the drug may further reduce cardiac output and blood pressure.

Head Injury and Increased Intracranial Pressure

The respiratory depressant effects of narcotics and their capacity to elevate cerebrospinal fluid pressure may be markedly exaggerated in the presence of head injury, other intracranial lesions or a pre-existing increase in intracranial pressure. Furthermore, narcotics produce adverse reactions which may obscure the clinical course of patients with head injuries.

Usage in Ambulatory Patients

Propoxyphene may impair the mental and/or physical abilities required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks, such as driving a car or operating machinery. The patient should be cautioned accordingly.

Use with Other Acetaminophen-Containing Agents

Due to the potential for acetaminophen hepatotoxicity at doses higher than the recommended dose, propoxyphene napsylate and acetaminophen should not be used concomitantly with other acetaminophen-containing products.

Use with Alcohol

Hepatotoxicity and severe hepatic failure occurred in chronic alcoholics following therapeutic doses of acetaminophen. Patients should be cautioned about the concomitant use of propoxyphene products and alcohol because of potentially serious CNS-additive effects of these agents that can lead to death.

Legal Issues

There is currently no legal information available for this drug.

FDA Safety Alerts

There are currently no FDA safety alerts available for this drug.

Manufacturer Warnings

There is currently no manufacturer warning information available for this drug.

FDA Labeling Changes

There are currently no FDA labeling changes available for this drug.

Uses

Propoxyphene napsylate and acetaminophen tablets, USP are indicated for the relief of mild to moderate pain.

History

There is currently no drug history available for this drug.

Other Information

Propoxyphene Napsylate, USP is an odorless, white crystalline powder with a bitter taste. It is very slightly soluble in water and soluble in methanol, ethanol, chloroform, and acetone. Chemically, it is (αS,1R)-α-[2-(Dimethylamino)-1-methylethyl]-α-phenylphenethyl propionate compound with 2-napthalenesulfonic acid (1:1) monohydrate, which can be represented by the accompanying structural formula.

This is an image of the structural formula for Propoxyphene Napsylate.

Propoxyphene napsylate differs from propoxyphene hydrochloride in that it allows more stable liquid dosage forms and tablet formulations. Because of differences in molecular weight, a dose of 100 mg (176.8 μmol) of propoxyphene napsylate is required to supply an amount of propoxyphene equivalent to that present in 65 mg (172.9 μmol) of propoxyphene hydrochloride.

Acetaminophen, 4'-hydroxyacetanilide, is a non-opiate, non-salicylate analgesic and antipyretic which occurs as a white, odorless, crystalline powder, possessing a slightly bitter taste. The molecular formula for acetaminophen is C8H9NO2 and the molecular weight is 151.16. It may be represented by the following structural formula.

This is an image of the structural formula of Acetaminophen.

Propoxyphene Napsylate and Acetaminophen Tablets, USP 50 mg/325 mg
Each tablet contains:
       Propoxyphene Napsylate ............................50 mg (88.4 μmol)
       Acetaminophen .........................................325 mg (2150 μmol) 
In addition each tablet contains the following inactive ingredients: carnauba wax, D&C Yellow #10 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Red #40 Aluminum Lake, hypromellose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, polyethylene glycol, polysorbate 80, sodium starch glycolate and titanium dioxide.

Propoxyphene Napsylate and Acetaminophen Tablets, USP 100 mg/650 mg
Each tablet contains:
       Propoxyphene Napsylate ...........................100 mg (176.8 μmol)
       Acetaminophen ..........................................650 mg (4300 μmol)
In addition each tablet contains the following inactive ingredients: carnauba wax, hypromellose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, polyethylene glycol, polysorbate 80, sodium starch glycolate and titanium dioxide. The orange tablets also contain D&C Yellow #10 Aluminum Lake and FD&C Red #40 Aluminum Lake. The pink tablets also contain FD&C Red #40 Aluminum Lake.

Propoxyphene And Acetaminophen Manufacturers


  • Altura Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Propoxyphene And Acetaminophen (Propoxyphene Napsylate And Acetaminophen) Tablet, Film Coated [Altura Pharmaceuticals, Inc.]
  • Keltman Pharmaceuticals Inc.
    Propoxyphene And Acetaminophen (Propoxyphene Napsylate And Acetaminophen) Tablet, Film Coated [Keltman Pharmaceuticals Inc.]
  • Pd-rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Propoxyphene And Acetaminophen (Propoxyphene Napsylate And Acetaminophen) Tablet, Film Coated [Pd-rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.]

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