AboutMary E Scott, RPh, CGP Expertise I am a certified geriatric pharmacist with over 23 years experience as a long-term care consultant to nursing homes. I also do community-based consulting on an individual basis. My facility-based monthly newsletter on pharmacy topics is read by nurses in over 200 long-term care facilities in 5 states.
Experience I received a BS in Pharmacy in 1980 with post-graduate work in public health. I have had a Consultant Pharmacist license since 1984.
Organizations American Society of Consultant Pharmacists .I received certification in geriatric pharmacy in 1998.
Question QUESTION: If long term use of Darvocet (low dose) can cause liver damage and it is not recommended that Darvocet be used long term, what other pain relievers are there out there that can be used long term with the same pain killing effect?
ANSWER: Hi,Nancy!
I do not know of any studies that say that long term use of propoxyphene/acetaminophen in normal doses can cause liver damage. It is the acetaminophen component of the Darvocet that COULD cause liver damage if there is underlying liver disease and/or exessive alcohol use.
Extra-Strength Tylenol and its generic equivalent have been proven to have the same pain reliever effect without the central nervous system (CNS) side-effects as Darvocet. It is the propoxyphene component that causes problems with drowsiness,falls,etc. As long as there is no pre-existing liver disease, you can take acetaminophen in doses up to 4gm a day which is 8 tablets of extra-strength Tylenol. Hope this helps, Mary
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QUESTION: Are these side effects to the central nervous system something I should be concerned with? I haven't experienced anything yet. Are there any long term effects on the CNS?
Answer Hi,Nancy!
By CNS side-effects I meant drowsiness,falls,etc. I wouldn't worry about it if you don't experience anything. One caution though, in studies in individuals over 65 yrs of age, use of propoxyphene caused a higher rate of falls leading to hip fracture.That is why propoxyphene is not recommended in the nursing facilities I in which I consult.
Hope this helps, Mary
