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Drug Interactions With Propoxyphene/Acetaminophen
There are a number of medications that may cause propoxyphene/acetaminophen drug interactions, including carbamazepine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and certain beta blockers. These interactions could increase the drug levels in your blood, perhaps increasing your risk of side effects. To help prevent these drug interactions, make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all other medications you are taking before using the pain reliever.
In November 2010, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) withdrew all medications that contain propoxyphene from the market. It has been determined that the risks of propoxyphene outweigh the possible benefits. In particular, the FDA was concerned about the drug's ability to cause serious changes in the heart rhythm, even at normal doses. Pharmacies will no longer sell this medication, and people who take it should stop and ask their healthcare provider for a more suitable pain medication.
Propoxyphene/acetaminophen (Darvocet®) can potentially interact with a number of other medications. Some of the medicines that may lead to drug interactions with propoxyphene/acetaminophen include:
- Alcohol
- Carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Epitol®, Equetro®, Tegretol®)
- Certain beta blockers, including:
- Acebutolol (Sectral®)
- Betaxolol (Kerlone®)
- Bisoprolol (Zebeta®)
- Carvedilol (Coreg®, Coreg CR®)
- Esmolol (Brevibloc®)
- Labetalol (Trandate®)
- Metoprolol (Lopressor®, Toprol XL®)
- Nadolol (Corgard®)
- Nebivolol (Bystolic®)
- Penbutolol (Levatol®)
- Propranolol (Inderal®, Inderal® LA, InnoPran XL™)
- Sotalol (Betapace®)
- Timolol
- CYP3A4 inhibitors, including (but not limited to):
- Amiodarone (Cordarone®, Pacerone®)
- Amprenavir (Agenerase®)
- Aprepitant (Emend®)
- Atazanavir (Reyataz®)
- Clarithromycin (Biaxin®)
- Conivaptan (Vaprisol®)
- Darunavir (Prezista®)
- Delavirdine (Rescriptor®)
- Diltiazem (Cardizem®, Cardizem CD®, Cardizem LA®, Cartia XT®, Dilacor XR®, Dilt-CD®, Diltia XT®, Dilt-XR®, Taztia XT®, Tiazac®)
- Fluconazole (Diflucan®)
- Fosamprenavir (Lexiva®)
- Grapefruit juice
- Imatinib (Gleevec®)
- Indinavir (Crixivan®)
- Isoniazid
- Itraconazole (Sporanox®)
- Ketoconazole (Nizoral®)
- Lopinavir and ritonavir (Kaletra®)
- Miconazole
- Nefazodone (Serzone®)
- Nelfinavir (Viracept®)
- Nicardipine (Cardene®)
- Posaconazole (Noxafil®)
- Quinidine
- Ritonavir (Norvir®)
- Saquinavir (Fortovase®, Invirase®)
- Telithromycin (Ketek®)
- Verapamil (Calan®, Calan SR®, Covera-HS®, Isoptin SR®, Verelan®, Verelan PM®)
- Voriconazole (VFEND®)
- Medications that cause drowsiness, including, but not limited to:
- Antipsychotic medications
- Anxiety medications
- Most antidepressants
- Muscle relaxants
- Other narcotic pain relievers
- Sleep medications
- Some antihistamines
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), including:
- Isocarboxazid (Marplan®)
- Phenelzine (Nardil®)
- Rasagiline (Azilect®)
- Selegiline (Eldepryl®, Emsam®, Zelapar®)
- Tranylcypromine (Parnate®)
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD