noun
- Plural of propoxyphene; synthetic opioid pain-relief medications formerly used to treat mild to moderate pain.
Usage: pharmaceutical/medical; largely discontinued in many countries due to safety concerns; historically common in over-the-counter and prescription formulations
Examples
- Propoxyphenes were widely prescribed for dental pain and minor injuries in the 1970s and 1980s.
- The FDA withdrew propoxyphenes from the U.S. market in 2010 due to cardiac risks.
- Many patients switched to alternative pain medications after propoxyphenes were discontinued.
- Propoxyphenes were often combined with acetaminophen in commercial formulations.
- Healthcare providers stopped recommending propoxyphenes once safer alternatives became available.