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Propoxyphene has a relatively long shelf life. Prescribed cap- sules have an expiry date stamped on each card and this is usually 2 or 3 years into the future. Although this provides only a rough guide, in the absence of any available testing of the drug, it is the only indication one has. Capsules that have reached their expiry date should be treated with caution (See Chapter 8 for a discussion on shelf life).
The Future of Propoxyphene
Propoxyphene faces an uncertain future. The withdrawal of the drug from the prescription schedule in the UK in early 2005 has led to the commissioning of a report on possible similar restrictions in Australia.
The drug has now been withdrawn in the European Union, the US, Canada and in New Zealand. In November 2010 the FDA announced that the drug would be also removed from the US market.