Government medical advisers recommended a ban on Darvon, a prescription drug that has been used to treat pain for more than 50 years but has been linked to addiction. An advisory panel to the Food and Drug Administration voted 14 to 12 to recommend its withdrawal. The F.D.A. is not required to follow such recommendations, but often does.

Darvon, approved in 1957 and now mainly marketed as Darvocet, is one of the 25 most commonly prescribed medications. Public Citizen had petitioned the F.D.A. to withdraw Darvon, saying the drug offered relatively weak pain relief and posed an overdose risk. Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals and Qualitest/Vintage Pharmaceuticals, which market the drug, say the medication is safe and effective when used as directed.