Withdrawn from the market (business decision)
Ethchlorvynol
PLACIDYL
What it isTertiary acetylenic alcohol sedative-hypnotic; withdrawn.
Why this oneIt was a widely used hypnotic before the benzodiazepines.
What limits itNarrow margin, dependence and a difficult overdose. US marketing discontinued in 1999.
Ethchlorvynol prescription history
Animated chart of estimated U.S. prescriptions per year, Sleep meds (1869–2026). Ethchlorvynol enters in 1955 (estimated).
FDA-approved for
- insomnia (US marketing discontinued 1999)
NO BOXED WARNINGS
Principal riskWithdrawn; narrow margin and dependence
Classes and tags
Clinical profile
Defining liabilityDependence and potentially prolonged CNS depression
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Self-check
- When was ethchlorvynol discontinued in the US?
1999. - What dosing limitation contributed to ethchlorvynol’s danger?
Narrow therapeutic margin.