Definition
Propoxyphene is a prescription opioid pain reliever (brand names included Darvon and Darvocet) historically used for mild to moderate pain. It causes drowsiness, dizziness, impaired judgment, and slowed reaction time, and is disqualifying for flight. It was withdrawn from the U.S. market in 2010 due to cardiac safety concerns, but is listed in FAA materials as an example of a medication a pilot must not fly under.
Plain English
A prescription painkiller that slows reactions and clouds thinking. A pilot taking it is not safe to fly.
Context Anchor
Seen in aviation medical guidance about drugs that can impair a pilot’s ability to fly safely.
Why Pilots Care
Use of this medication disqualifies a pilot from flying until cleared by an aviation medical examiner and can lead to certificate action if undisclosed.
Intuition Check
Do not assume a prescribed pain medicine is safe for flying. For pilots, the key question is whether the medicine or the condition it treats can make flying unsafe.
Example Sentence 1
The pilot's doctor prescribed propoxyphene after a minor injury, so he stayed on the ground until he had finished the course and felt fully clear-headed.
Example Sentence 2
FAA guidance warns against flying while using propoxyphene because of its effects on alertness and heart function.