Over-the-Counter Substitutes for Darvon

Millions of Americans suffer from pain on a daily basis. The degrees of pain vary as much as the medications used to treat them. Responsible doctors are careful to prescribe stronger pain medications to only their patients who suffer from severe pain. Strong painkillers, such as narcotics, carry a risk of abuse and addiction. Some physicians prescribe medication stronger than needed. Darvon is one of these medications.

Darvon

• Darvon is the brand name for the chemical propoxyphene, an opioid pain reliever released in 1957. Initially, the drug was thought to be stronger than aspirin but not as addictive or intoxicating as narcotic medications such as morphine. But propoxyphene turned out to be addictive, and patients quickly built a tolerance to it, requiring higher dosages.

  The company that manufactured Darvon, Eli Lilly and Co., later conceded that the standard 65 mg dose of Darvon was no more effective than two aspirin, according to the Teen OTC and Prescription Drug Abuse website. This, along with Darvon's addiction potential and the fact that it was in the top 10 abused pharmaceuticals, led to its U.S. ban by the FDA on Nov. 19, 2010.

  There are several over-the-counter substitutes for treating the mild to moderate pain for which Darvon was intended. However, higher doses of Darvon were used for severe pain. Increasing the strength of its over-the-counter substitutes does not attain this relief. Seeing a physician is the safest and most effective way to treat your pain.

Aspirin

• Provided your pain is mild to moderate, aspirin can easily be used instead of Darvon. As with all medications, be sure not to take aspirin if you are allergic to it or are taking medications that interact with it. This can cause dangerous and sometimes fatal results. Go to an emergency room or call 911 immediately if you experience problems with aspirin. Also, don't mix aspirin with other-over-the counter pain medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

Ibuprofen

• Ibuprofen, a common pain relieving medication, includes brand-names such as Advil and Motrin. According to Drugs.com, it is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID. It reduces hormones that cause inflammation and pain. When the drug is used for mild to moderate pain, its side effects include increase chances of developing cardiac conditions and stroke, especially with prolonged usage. Another troublesome side effect of ibuprofen is its effects on the stomach, where it commonly causes discomfort and is believed to cause intestinal bleeding that can be problematic.

Acetaminophen

• Another over-the-counter replacement for Darvon is acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol. This drug's usage versus aspirin and ibuprofen is controversial. Just like them, acetaminophen's potential side effects that can be quite serious. This painkiller does not have potential to harm the stomach or the cardiac system, but it can harm the liver. As most medications are filtered by the liver, drinking plenty of fluids and regularly seeing a physician is imperative.