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Darvocet Abuse and Addiction Facts: Learn the Risks and Where to Find Detox and Rehab
Darvocet addiction and abuse may not be as big a problem today as it once was, but people still do use this drug. Regardless of whether they purchase it from street dealers or online, treatment is the best option for them for recovering. This medication is no longer available for people to get by prescription, but because it produces a euphoric high, people find ways of obtaining it.
This drug has a lot of controversy surrounding it because it was banned by the FDA. It was once a very effective way of treating pain, but people also used it as a way to get high. When they did, they did not realize how serious this problem was, and the effects this drug was having on them.
We want to help people become more aware of the dangers of Darvocet, as well as opioids in general. This drug carries many risks, and people need to know about them. They also need to know where to turn to get the recovery help they need if they are addicted.
What is Darvocet?
Darvocet is a narcotic, opiate pain medication that doctors used to prescribe quite freely. It worked very well, which meant it was often the go-to choice for people in acute or chronic pain. The drug is a combination of acetaminophen and propoxyphene.
The problem was that many people developed serious heart problems after taking this drug. As a result, the FDA pulled it from the market. Other medications were developed to take its place. However, that doesn’t mean that it completely disappeared.
It’s still possible to find this drug for sale on the street. It can produce strong sensations of euphoria, which makes it a popular drug of abuse.
Darvocet worked very well for treating pain. People who take it tend to get relief within about 30 minutes. When it was regularly prescribed, it was common for doctors to give it to people who suffered from:
- Chronic migraines or other types of headaches
- Sciatica pain
- Herniated disks
- Pain from muscle spasms
- Neck pain
- Tooth pain
- Pain from arthritis
When the drug was discontinued, it came as a shock to many people. It was very common for people to remain on Darvocet for years if they suffered from chronic pain. It’s not surprising that some have found a way to continue to use it, even though it’s no longer legal.
Yes, this drug does have side effects. However, many of them will usually go away once your body adjusts to it. Some of the more common side effects of Darvocet include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- An upset stomach
- Bouts of constipation
- Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
- Blurry vision
- Feeling sedated and drowsy
- Headaches that come and go
- A dry mouth
Many people who use this medication are using it in higher doses than what would be recommended. This means that the above side effects may be more pronounced. It’s also possible that breathing problems may result in some people. At that point, Darvocet should definitely be discontinued.
You might think that such an outdated drug wouldn’t still have a place in the United States. However, statistics indicate otherwise. By the time the drug was banned, there were about 10 million Americans who were taking it. Further statistics indicate that:
- About 20 million total people had taken this drug before it was banned.
- In 2008, there were about 16,000 hospital visits that involved Darvocet or an equivalent generic.
- About 10,000 people have died from overdoses while taking this drug since 1981.
- This medication was listed as a Top 10 Drug of Abuse by the FDA prior to the ban.
- It is believed that it carried even more risks for overdoses than today’s opiate medications.
This medication can be found under several different brand names, including:
- Darvon
- PP-Cap
- Darvon-N
- Balacet
- Wygesic
- Propacet
However, because it’s not legal today, it’s generally just referred to by the name Darvocet. People who purchase the drug illegally will often refer to it by using street names. Some common street names for Darvocet include:
- Yellow Footballs
- Dillies
- D
- Pinks
- 65s
- N’s
It really doesn’t matter what you call it. This is a dangerous drug, even in what would be considered “normal” doses. The fact that it has been recalled means that no one should be taking it. It doesn’t matter if they believe it’s the only medication that can help their pain.
What is Abuse?
If you’re abusing Darvocet, you don’t have any of the signs of addiction yet. This is because the two are very different.
This is a drug that is no longer approved by the FDA. That means that any use of it at all qualifies as abuse. People misuse this drug for a number of reasons. Some are looking for pain relief, and they may believe that it’s the only drug that will help them. Others are using it because of the euphoric high it can produce at high doses.
Some people will abuse Darvon by just taking too much of the drug at one time. However, it usually isn’t long before a tolerance starts to form. When it does, they will often take different measures to get high with it.
It’s quite common for people to crush the pills or chop them up. Once they do, they may snort the powder. It’s also possible to inject it if you add some liquid to it first. Before moving to these methods, users might just chew the pills instead of swallowing them.
Continued use of Darvon in high doses or by any of the methods described above can lead to an addiction. This comes as a surprise to many people because they believe they can control their use. What they don’t realize is that it often doesn’t take long before the drug takes over their minds.
When Darvocet abuse begins, it might not be very long before they form an addiction to it. This means that they feel compelled to take it. Using the drug consumes their thoughts day and night. Without it, they don’t feel like themselves, and some individuals may believe they can’t live without it.
It’s a terrible feeling to think that you might be addicted to a substance. For some people, they end up feeling trapped. For others, they live their lives completely unaware that an addiction has taken place.
Once you’re addicted, the only way out is to get professional help. People tend to think that they can quit on their own. However, with a drug like Darvocet, that’s often easier said than done. Addiction treatment offers them solutions that can lead to long-term abstinence and sobriety.
When you are addicted to Darvocet, you are demonstrating some common addiction signs. This might include:
- Having problems with your breathing
- Suffering from chest pains
- Developing seizures
- Developing headaches or blurry vision
- Having strange thoughts in your mind
- Experiencing swelling in your face
There are other indicators you can look for in your life to determine whether or not you have become addicted to Darvocet as well. These might include:
- You’re purchasing it on the street
- You feel as though you have to have it to feel normal
- You go through withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking it
- You have not been able to stop taking it in the past
- Your friends and family have told you they feel you may be addicted and you need to get help.
If you notice any of these Darvocet addiction signs, you probably are addicted. However, it’s also possible that you’re in denial about your drug problem. This is extremely common and many people refuse to acknowledge their addictions for years.
If you’re still not sure, even after looking at the above signs and symptoms, you may want to take another step. It might be helpful for you to take a prescription drug addiction quiz. This could answer a lot of your questions, and clarify your relationship with Darvocet.
The Effects of Darvon on the Mind and Body
Whether you’re using Darvon in the short-term or in the long-term, it’s going to have an effect on you. This type of drug will affect both your mind and your body. It’s important for you to understand what you might experience.
Unfortunately, many of the short-term effects of Darvon are quite desirable. That’s what makes people continue using it for longer periods of time. If you’re using it short-term, you can expect to experience mild sedation, sleepiness and analgesia. You will get a euphoric response, which can become quite addicting.
It’s also possible to experience some unwanted short-term side effects by using this drug. These include:
- Hives due to an allergic reaction
- Breathing problems
- A slower heart rate
- Chest pain
- Bouts of confusion
- Excessive itching
- The onset of seizures
The long-term effects of Darvon are much more serious, as you might expect. A part of the issue is that the drug is made with acetaminophen. This is a fairly mild pain reliever that’s OK to use sporadically. However, if it is used too often, it can cause serious problems.
Some of the long-term effects of Darvon include:
- Severe and even fatal liver damage
- Chronic constipation
- Possible bowel obstruction or blockage
- Hearing loss
- Possible opiate addiction
- Significant heart problems
You can see why it’s so important to stop taking Darvon if you’ve been using it for years. It might seem as though it’s the only drug that will help with your pain. However, we want to assure you that this isn’t true at all. There are other medications that can work just as well, or even better. Not only that, but there may be ways to treat your condition without using medications at all.
Why Was It Taken Off the Market?
When any medication is approved by the FDA, they carefully weigh the data they’ve collected first. They need to know that the benefits of a drug will outweigh the risks involved. This is what happened when Darvocet was approved originally.
Unfortunately, the time that the FDA takes to study new medications often isn’t enough. It’s very common for them to come back years later and recall medications. Patients have the opportunity to file reports based on their experiences. With Darvocet, it was found to be linked with potentially deadly heart rhythm abnormalities. This was taking place even when people took the recommended dosages.
By 2010, when Darvocet was recalled and eventually banned, there were many other medications on the market. Other opiate drugs were found to work better and with less of a chance of dangerous side effects.
Today, there are many different types of medications that can be taken instead of Darvocet. Some of these include:
- Oxycodone
- Vicodin
- Percocet
- Demerol
- Dilaudid
- Tramadol
- Morphine
While it’s true that prescribing these medications too often has led to our nation’s opioid epidemic, sometimes they’re necessary. It’s much better to take a medication that has been prescribed by your doctor appropriately. Otherwise, you could potentially be putting your life in jeopardy by using a banned drug.
What Happens if You Stop Taking This Drug?
It is never recommended for anyone to just stop using Darvocet abruptly. If you do, you will immediately go into withdrawal, and that can be very dangerous. It usually will result in one of two different outcomes.
The first is that you will relapse and go back to using the drug to get some relief. Eventually, you may try to quit again, and then you might relapse again. This is what is called the cycle of addiction. It is extremely common, but it will only make it hard for you to quit when you’re really ready to.
The second is that you will relapse and go back to using Darvocet and then take too much of it. This happens because you aren’t aware of how quickly your tolerance can change once you quit. If you take too much of this drug, you could suffer from an overdose, and it could be fatal.
If you’ve been taking Darvocet for quite some time, your body has come to depend on this medication for it to function properly. That means that stopping it is likely to lead to some symptoms of withdrawal that can become quite severe at times. You might experience:
- Severe bouts of anxiety
- Physical cravings for the drug
- Strange sensations on your skin
- Feelings of shakiness
- Aches and pains in your body
Sometimes people even develop Restless Leg Syndrome, which can make sleeping at night very difficult. You may also have other symptoms that aren’t listed here.
Withdrawal is very hard to get through. Many addicts are even afraid of going through it. As a result, they just continue abusing this drug for as long as possible. Fortunately, there is a way out, and a way to get past withdrawal that will make it more comfortable for you.
The Risk of Overdosing
Many experts believe that the risk of overdosing on Darvocet may be higher than with other medications. This could be because people tend to think of it as more mild than pain relievers like Oxycodone. It’s still a potent and powerful drug that can be dangerous when it is misused.
According to information presented by the FDA, a fatal overdose can happen within one hour of taking Darvocet. It’s much more common in people who:
- Already suffer from emotional problems
- Have attempted suicide in the past
- Are currently having thoughts of suicide
- Are also using antidepressants
- Are taking muscle relaxers or sedatives
This is highly subjective, and it’s going to vary from person to person. For someone who has a low tolerance, even doubling the dose of this drug can result in an overdose. In most cases, however, you would need to take several pills. This is generally what people do who are abusing Darvocet.
The FDA warned people to never take more than six pills in one day if they were using Darvocet-N 100. If they were taking N-50, they were warned not to take more than 12 tablets in one day.
Is the Danger of Overdosing When Mixed it With Other Drugs?
You do have a higher risk of overdosing if you take Darvon along with other drugs. This is very important because if you are going to continue to use it, you need to know the dangers of mixing it. There are certain substances that people commonly combine with it, and they are as follows.
People will frequently use this drug along with alcohol as a way to enhance the high. This is usually the first substance they turn to when their current dose stops working as well for them.
According to Drugs.com, alcohol produces a CNS response that can depress the respiratory system. Misusing both of these substances together can cause significant breathing problems. Too much of either in combination can result in a fatal overdose.
Even when it was legal, it was recommended that it not be combined with Valium. This is an anti-anxiety medication and the combination increases drowsiness. There is also a risk of other dangerous side effects such as breathing problems and memory loss. People may suffer from a dangerously low blood pressure as well, which can be fatal.
Using Darvocet in combination with hydrocodone can also increase potential side effects. People generally feel more sedated, and they may suffer from confusion and concentration difficulties. This is especially important to note for elderly people. They could experience impaired thinking and motor coordination issues.
People may attempt this combination for the possibility of enhanced pain relief. However, the risks are far too great. While taking both drugs together may produce more euphoria, it’s not worth risking a possible overdose.
The Reality of the Opioid Crisis in Washington State
The opioid crisis continues on in Washington State, and while there are many actions being taken, we are still waiting to see real results.
The Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute of the University of Washington offers the following statistics:
- Between 2002-2004 and 2014-2016, there was an increase of 134% of cases that tested positive for opioids.
- Those increases were seen in most counties.
- Treatment admissions for publicly funded programs increased 257% statewide within that time frame.
- There were just over 3,400 treatment admissions for opioids in 1999. By 2015, that number had grown to close to 15,000.
- Also within that time frame, there was an increase in opioid-related deaths across the state.
- All of these increased exceeded the growth of Washington State’s population.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse offers additional statistics. They state that:
- There were 57.2 opioid prescriptions written for every 100 people in WA State in 2017.
- That is just under the national average of 58.2 prescriptions.
- In 2017, there were more than 740 overdose deaths that involved opioids.
- That is a rate of 9.6 for every 100,000 people.
- The greatest increase was among cases that also involved heroin.
- There were 60 deaths in 2010 and 306 deaths in 2017.
How to Recover if You’re Addicted
If you’re addicted to Darvocet, you need professional help to quit using. It’s critical for you to address the physical and mental parts of this addiction. As you can see, trying to quit using on your own often isn’t enough. You may have the best of intentions, but if your quit attempt doesn’t work, you run the risk of relapsing.
It can be shocking to learn that you’re addicted to anything. It’s even worse when it’s a medication you truly thought you needed. Fortunately, you can get help to quit using the right way. This will involve you going to a Darvon rehab to get the help you need to recover. However, there is another step that you will want to consider first.
When it comes to a medication like Darvon, it’s very important to go through the detoxification process first. This is going to help you get through the physical part of your addiction.
As you have continued to use this drug, your body has grown dependent upon it. It’s gotten used to its regular dose. When you suddenly take that away, your body will respond with withdrawal symptoms. You know what those are like if you’ve ever tried to quit using on your own in the past.
A pain medication detox will offer you the support you need during this difficult time. They provide various types of withdrawal treatments to assist you through your withdrawals. You may find that you don’t have severe symptoms at all. It’s also possible that you completely skip over some of the more common signs of withdrawal.
Detoxing from Darvocet helps your body removes those harmful toxins more efficiently. You’ll find that you recover faster and you feel better sooner. It’s a step that you’ll be very happy you took. Most likely, you’ll be given a combination of medications to help with your symptoms. You may also experience holistic treatments such as dietary changes and a new exercise regimen.
Once you have finished the detoxification process, you’ll be ready to move on to rehab. It’s so important for you to take the time and address the psychological component of your addiction. That is what you will do during this phase of your recovery.
During rehab, you’ll work closely with your therapist in one-on-one sessions. It will be their job to help you determine what caused your addiction. It might be something as simple as you taking it for pain and never stopping. This is most people’s experience. However, it’s also possible that you were taking it for an entirely different reason.
Many people abuse Darvocet because of the euphoria it produces. That euphoria offers them a way of escaping their current realities. You may have been using this medication as a way to self-medicate, which is very common.
Will You Need Dual Diagnosis Treatment for a Co-Occurring Disorder?
As many as half of all drug addicts actually suffer from a co-occurring disorder. This means that they have a mental illness that is connected with the addiction. If you are addicted to Darvocet, this could also be the case for you. Your therapist will work with you to determine if you have one of these conditions, and they can include:
- Bipolar Disorder
- Anxiety Disorder
- Depression
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Personality Disorder
- Panic Disorder
There’s no shame in finding out that you have a co-occurring disorder. In fact, it can be very freeing to know what it was that led to your addiction.
Once you know that you do have this type of problem, you can receive dual diagnosis treatment. This means that your therapist won’t be solely focusing on your addiction alone. Instead, they will be addressing the root cause. This is going to give you a much better chance for a long-term recovery.
Unfortunately, the answer to this question is no. It will help you to get professional treatment, and it will definitely get you started in your recovery. However, it won’t cure you because there is no cure for addiction.
Right now, your focus needs to be on continuing to stay on the right track. Your recovery will be an ongoing experience and a major part of your life. Once you finish your rehab stay, your work has just begun.
You will receive a recommendation for your aftercare, and it’s very important for you to follow it. Your therapist may ask you to go to an outpatient program, or get involved in an IOP. They may tell you that you should begin attending Narcotics Anonymous meetings as well.
Regardless of what they recommend, please follow up with all of your appointments. This is what is going to keep you in recovery.
How Much Does Rehab Cost?
Darvocet rehab cost is frequently a factor for those who need addiction treatment. Unfortunately, it’s one of the main reasons that people fail to get professional help for their addictions. Just a few short years ago, almost everyone had to pay out of pocket if they desired to go to a Darvocet rehab. The good news is that this is no longer the case at all.
Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, your health insurance provider is now required to offer you benefits to help cover the costs associated with Darvocet rehab. Many people are not aware of this change in our country’s healthcare laws, which is why so many of them continue to hesitate to seek Darvocet addiction help. Talking with Darvocet rehabs can give you some insight on the type of treatment that is recommended for you, and what your health insurance policy will cover. Many people are actually surprised that these services are covered in full.
Is Inpatient Treatment the Best Option for Your Recovery?
For someone who is addicted to Darvocet, inpatient care may be the best option available to them for recovery. They may find that they need the help of professionals in order to get through this difficult time.
As we mentioned earlier, quitting the use of Darvocet will lead to withdrawal symptoms. Most people are unsuccessful when they attempt to quit on their own because of them. They typically find that they are desperate for relief, so they just go right back to using again. This is why going through detox is so highly recommended.
Rehab is important because it helps people understand the root cause of their addictions. Patients typically undergo various types of therapy during rehab which helps with this process.
Northpoint Washington’s Detox and Rehab Program
At Northpoint Washington, we offer one of the best detox and rehab programs in the region. In fact, we receive referrals from all over the country from people who need to recover from this type of addiction. We are located in Edmonds, Washington, and we have a 28-day inpatient program.
All of our patients will most likely be recommended for medical detox as they recover from Darvocet addiction. This means they will be given medications to help with their withdrawal symptoms. When it comes to opioids, medication assisted treatment is a great option. There are medications that have been approved specifically to treat this type of problem, such as suboxone and buprenorphine.
After detoxing, our patients will move on to our in-house rehab program. They participate in many different types of counseling and work with a therapist in a one-on-one setting. Group therapy and family therapy may be recommended along with many other forms of treatment.
We mentioned the importance of treating co-occurring disorders earlier, which is why we offer this form of treatment. Dual diagnosis treatment has been shown to be very effective for people who suffer from mental health conditions and addictions.
More than half of people with substance abuse problems struggle with co-occurring disorders. They start using drugs like Darvocet as a way to self-medicate their symptoms away. We show them the connection between the two and help them find other ways to cope that are healthy.
Cross addictions are also common among people with addictions to Darvocet. They are often also addicted to marijuana, alcohol or another drug. But it is very important to address all addictions during rehab. Otherwise, people are very likely to go back to using once their treatment is over.
Detox and Rehab for Darvocet Addiction and Abuse in WA State
At Northpoint Washington, nothing is as important to us as our patients’ success after treatment. We know how hard it is to ask for help when you suffer from a Darvocet addiction; especially since this drug is now banned. But we want you to know that our primary concern is your health and safety. We want you to be free of this addiction.
It is possible for you to recover from your Darvocet addiction. It may seem like a challenge, but it is not one that you cannot take on and overcome. We will be there to help you every step of the way.
Do you need to know more about Darvocet addiction and abuse? Do you have questions about what your treatment options might be? Please contact us today to learn more.
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