The Darvon Recall: A Growing Issue
February 8, 2011 by AMA
Filed under Pain Management
What exactly is the Darvon recall all about? You might have read about it in the papers or from somewhere else, but the issue is actually quite serious. Darvon is the brand name of propoxyphene, a drug pharmacologically identified as an opioid, and therapeutically as an analgesic. This is indicated for patients experiencing mild to moderate pain, but because it causes fatal adverse effects, the Food and Drug Administration in the United States is requesting pharmaceutical companies manufacturing propoxyphene to withdraw the said medication. As of now, Xanodyne Pharmaceutical, Inc has already withdrawn their medications containing propoxyphene, namely Darvon and Darvocet. In the light of the Darvon recall, the FDA is now asking other pharmaceutical manufacturers to withdraw the drug from the market.
The underlying reason why the Darvon recall was issued rests in the medication’s potential complications. Further studies were required by the FDA to establish the risks of Darvon and Darvocet, and it was concluded that these medications can cause a myriad of dangerous complications, such as heart problems. Propoxyphene is actually a very potent blocker of the sodium channels that lie along the heart membrane. When propoxyphene is metabolized by the liver, a quarter of its dose is then converted into norpropoxyphene, a cardio-toxic metabolite that has a longer half-life. This means that the substance will be excreted at a much later time, which will result in the occurrence of more Darvon side effects such as palpitations, chest pain, dizziness, headache, allergic reactions and unconsciousness. The heart is the most affected body organ, because the adverse and toxic effects of Darvon can impede its normal electrical activity, resulting in irregular rhythms, or arrhythmias, that the patient will suffer. The kidneys of elderly patients, because they are not very functional anymore, can also be damaged because propoxyphene is excreted by the urinary system.
All people experience pain, and this symptom accounts for one of the most common reasons for medical consultation. Darvon is one of the most frequently prescribed medications, but you might still have a lot of questions pertaining to the recall. Indeed, you should be aware of pertinent events and information concerning the Darvon recall, as well as how the drug can lead to the development of heart problems.
How Inflammation Protects An Injured Body Part
January 10, 2011 by AMA
Filed under Pain Management
1 of essentially the most irritating elements of any injury will be the accompanying inflammation and swelling that occurs. From a sprained and swollen ankle to a painful bump on the arm right after an insect bite, inflamed tissue is one of the most frequent occurrences in any injury. Although everybody experiences inflammation at 1 point or an additional, few folks certainly comprehend what’s going on with their body when a specific component is swollen and tender, and why the pain could be so poor after such an injury.
In reality, the pain that comes along with an injury could be extra agonizing than the injury itself. A simple twist or too significantly rounding of the back can trigger the muscles to really feel painful for days or weeks. The inflammation itself is a response to the tissue harm, regardless of whether it is from trauma associated to pressure, temperature, or chemical reactions in the physique. But one of the reactions that occur together with inflammation is an increased sensitization of the nerves and neurons in the area of the injury. The pain sensors also turn into extra extremely activated with tissue harm.
In the brief term, though, inflammation is excellent for the physique after tissue harm has occurred. The swelling and tenderness are indicators of increased circulation and blood flow to the injured area. With out this increase in circulation, it could take much longer to heal from an injury, if full healing could be achievable at all. Thus, the body’s inflammatory response correct following tissue harm that lasts for days or weeks is an attempt to guard the body component that has sustained the harm.
All the tissues of the physique can grow to be inflamed and swell up due to increased circulation. And all of the tissues of the physique can heal. We all know that cuts and scrapes on the skin will heal following a period of bleeding and scabbing. Torn muscles and sprained tendons heal in a matter of weeks or months right after the initial swelling. Even ligaments can heal, although they could take much longer — months or even years in some instances. And everyone knows an individual who has had a broken bone that has been splinted, set, and healed right after becoming immobilized for some time.
Modifications to the nervous method following an injury, however, may possibly be longer lasting, even permanent. In some cases, the body may possibly grow to be additional highly sensitive right after sustaining damage, as the brain and nerves scan the injured area for far more signs of danger, even lengthy after the injury has healed. In some unfortunately circumstances, these adjustments to the nerves and brain may possibly lead to chronic pain syndromes. This indicates that the nervous system is sending pain messages to specific tissues in an try to shield against future harm, regardless of whether or not or not the tissues are in fact in danger.
Therefore, inflammation is really a natural response to injury and tissue harm, and with out it, we would have a rather challenging time recovering from hurting ourselves. Extra changes to the region that has been hurt contain increased sensitization of the nerves within the area, as the brain tries to shield us against additional harm. But when these modifications turn out to be permanent along with the nerves keep sending pain messages to already healed tissue, chronic pain can develop as a result of the increasingly sensitized nervous method.
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