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Molindone Side Effects

Applies to molindone: oral syrup, oral tablet.

Serious side effects of molindone

Along with its needed effects, molindone may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking molindone:

More common side effects

  • difficulty with talking or swallowing
  • inability to move the eyes
  • lip smacking or puckering
  • loss of balance control
  • mask-like face
  • muscle spasms, especially of the neck and back
  • puffing of the cheeks
  • rapid or worm-like movements of the tongue
  • restlessness or need to keep moving (severe)
  • shuffling walk
  • stiffness of the arms and legs
  • trembling and shaking of the hands
  • twisting movements of the body
  • uncontrolled movements of the arms and legs
  • unusual chewing movements

Less common side effects

  • discouragement
  • false or unusual sense of well-being
  • feeling sad or empty
  • irritability
  • lack of appetite
  • loss of interest or pleasure
  • tiredness
  • trouble sitting still
  • trouble with concentrating
  • trouble with sleeping

Rare side effects

  • blurred vision
  • confusion
  • dark-colored urine
  • dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position suddenly
  • general feeling of tiredness or weakness
  • headache
  • hot, dry skin, or lack of sweating
  • light-colored stools
  • muscle weakness
  • skin rash
  • stomach pain, continuing
  • sweating
  • unusual tiredness or weakness
  • vomiting
  • yellow eyes or skin

Incidence not known

  • absence of or decrease in body movement
  • decrease in frequency of urination
  • decrease in urine volume
  • difficulty in passing urine (dribbling)
  • fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
  • increased blinking or spasms of the eyelid
  • painful urination
  • slowed movements
  • sticking out of the tongue
  • tic-like (jerky) movements of the head, face, mouth, and neck
  • trouble with breathing, speaking, or swallowing
  • twisting movements of the neck, trunk, arms, or legs
  • unusual facial expressions

Other side effects of molindone

Some side effects of molindone may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common side effects

  • constipation
  • decreased sweating
  • difficult urination
  • drowsiness
  • dryness of the mouth
  • headache
  • nausea
  • stuffy nose

Less common side effects

  • absent, missed, or irregular menstrual periods
  • changes in menstrual periods
  • decreased sexual ability
  • false sense of well-being
  • stopping of menstrual bleeding
  • swelling of the breasts or breast soreness in both females and males
  • unexpected or excess milk flow from breasts
  • unusual secretion of milk

Incidence not known

  • decreased interest in sexual intercourse
  • inability to have or keep an erection
  • increased in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
  • increased interest in sexual intercourse
  • loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
  • painful or prolonged erection of the penis
  • weight gain or loss

Managing side effects (general information)

For healthcare professionals

Applies to molindone: oral concentrate, oral tablet.

General adverse events

The most common side effects include drowsiness; less frequently occurring side effects include depression, hyperactivity, and euphoria.[Ref]

Nervous system

Akathisia/motor restlessness occurred early in treatment.

Drowsiness occurred with initial treatment and usually subsided with continued use or lowering of the dose.

Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) may occur in susceptible patients, but is usually reversible with appropriate therapy; EPS symptoms include akathisia.

Parkinson syndrome occurred less frequently than akathisia and includes rigidity, immobility, and reduction of voluntary movements/tremor.[Ref]

Genitourinary

Urinary retention may occur more frequently during concomitant use with anticholinergic drugs.[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Constipation may occur more frequently during concomitant use with anticholinergic drugs.[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Rare, transient, nonspecific T wave changes have been reported on ECGs; however, there is no established association with this drug.[Ref]

Hematologic

Red blood cell alterations were not clinically significant.[Ref]

Psychiatric

Metabolic

Blood glucose alterations were not considered clinically significant.[Ref]

Endocrine

Thyroid function alterations were not clinically significant.[Ref]

Dermatologic

Nonspecific skin rash (likely of allergic origin) occurred early during treatment.

Skin pigmentation did not occur when this drug is used alone.[Ref]

Hepatic

Liver function alterations have been clinically significant in some patients.[Ref]

Renal

BUN alterations were not clinically significant.[Ref]

Ocular

References

1. (2001) "Product Information. Moban (molindone)." Gate Pharmaceuticals

Further information

Molindone side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer