Propoxyphene Stats & Data
XLMALTXPSGQGBX-GCJKJVERSA-NPharmacology
DrugBankMechanism of Action
Propoxyphene acts as a weak agonist at OP1, OP2, and OP3 opiate receptors within the central nervous system (CNS). Propoxyphene primarily affects OP3 receptors, which are coupled with G-protein receptors and function as modulators, both positive and negative, of synaptic transmission via G-proteins that activate effector proteins. Binding of the opiate stimulates the exchange of GTP for GDP on the G-protein complex. As the effector system is adenylate cyclase and cAMP located at the inner surfac
Dextropropoxyphene has a high toxicity relative to dose. As with all opioids, long-term effects can vary but can include diminished libido, apathy and memory loss. It is also potentially lethal when mixed with depressants like alcohol or benzodiazepines and generally has a wider range of substances which it is dangerous to combine with in comparison to other opioids. Dextropropoxyphene is known to lower the seizure threshold. It should not be taken during benzodiazepine withdrawals as this can potentially cause seizures.
LD50
LD50: 230mg/kg (oral, rat)
Carcinogenicity
No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC).
Tolerance & Pharmacokinetics
drugs.wikiNo tolerance chart. Our decay curves for opioids were estimates, and a curve can make tolerance look longer-lasting than it is, which is the dangerous direction.
Opioid tolerance drops fast when you stop, and even a few days off can be enough, so a dose that used to be normal can now stop your breathing. Overdose deaths rise sharply after prison, detox or leaving treatment, and tolerance also falls during a hospital stay. After any break, start with a much smaller amount, try a test dose first, don't use alone, and keep naloxone within reach. Alcohol, benzodiazepines, gabapentinoids and other sedatives make an opioid overdose much more likely.
Sources: FRANK: heroin · National Harm Reduction Coalition · WHO: opioid overdose · Merrall et al. 2010 · Binswanger et al. 2007 · Strang et al. 2003 · FDA 2019: gabapentinoids and breathing
Experience Report Analysis
ErowidDemographics
Gender Distribution
Too few reports for a chart: gender is known from 13 reports, and a split is drawn only from 20 reports or more. Counts are shown instead. Why 20?
- Male 11 of 13
- Female 2 of 13
Age Distribution
Reports Over Time
Effect Analysis
ErowidEffects aggregated from 7 experience reports (7 single-substance Erowid)
Effect Sentiment Distribution
Confidence Distribution
Each bar is the share of reports mentioning the effect; its whisker, and the band on the rows below, is the 95% interval: where the share could plausibly be with other reports of the same kind.
Too few reports for bars: these effects come from 7 single-substance Erowid reports, and a bar is drawn only from 20 reports or more. With fewer, a percentage cannot tell a common effect from a rare one. Counts are shown instead. Why 20?
Positive Effects 3
Adverse Effects 0
Real-World Dose Distribution
ErowidFrom 21 of 36 recorded dose entries: those that state a weight (mg, g or µg), in routes with at least five of them. Values above Q3 + 3×IQR, far above what people typically take, are left out; they can include real heavy doses and overdoses, not only mistakes.
Oral (n=21)
Form / Preparation
Most common forms and preparations, as a share of the 11 reports that give one
Too few reports for bars: these forms come from 11 reports, and a bar is drawn only from 20 reports or more. With fewer, a percentage cannot tell a common effect from a rare one. Counts are shown instead. Why 20?
- Pill / Tablet 9 of 11
Redose Patterns
Redosing behavior across 12 reports
Too few reports for a chart: redosing is known from 12 reports, and a split is drawn only from 20 reports or more. Counts are shown instead. Why 20?
- Single dose 10 of 12
- Redosed 2 of 12