Dextropropoxyphene, manufactured by Eli Lilly and Company, is an analgesic in the opioid category. It is intended to treat mild pain and has, in addition, antitussive and local anesthetic effects. It has been taken off the market in Europe and the US due to concerns of fatal overdoses and arrhythmias. An estimated 10 million patients have used these products.
Dextropropoxyphene is sometimes combined with paracetamol or acetylsalicylic acid. Trade names include Darvocet-N and Di-Gesic Darvon with APAP for dextropropoxyphene and paracetamol and Darvon with ASA for dextropropoxyphene and aspirin. The British Approved Name (i.e. the generic name of the active ingredient) of the paracetamol/dextropropoxyphene preparation is co-proxamol (sold under a variety of brand names); however, it has been withdrawn since 2007, and is no longer available to new patients. The paracetamol combination(s) are known as Capadex or Di-Gesic in Australia, Lentogesic in South Africa, and Di-Antalvic in France (unlike co-proxamol, which is an approved name, these are all brand names).
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