Moban Production Stopped

The antipsychotic medication molindone hydrochloride has been discontinued from production by its manufacturer, and the current drug supply is expected to run out by June, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

A notice about the discontinuation, posted January 13 on the FDA's Web site for drug shortages at <www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/DrugShortages/ucm050794.htm>, gives no more details about the discontinuation.

Because Endo Pharmaceuticals is the United States' only distributor of molindone, which is sold here under the brand name Moban, the discontinuation implies that molindone may become unavailable after June. No generic formulation is approved or sold.

“The reason that this [discontinuation] is important is that patients on the drug have psychotic symptoms of some kind, and disruption in their medication regimens could have potentially serious consequences,” said William Narrow, M.D., M.P.H., associate director of research at APA. “Patients on Moban are likely to have been taking it for years, and changes in stable regimens are clinically important regardless of the diagnosis of the patient.”

Endo Pharmaceuticals did not respond to requests for comment.