Manufacturers Have Stopped Production of Pergolide

Because drug manufacturers have stopped production of Pergolide, horse owners could lose access to this drug within months, said Dr. Sue Gordon. She and Kellon are now leading a battle to get the Federal Food and Drug Administration and the private drug manufacturers to restart production and keep the drug available for horses.

“The companies themselves have already stopped manufacturing the drug. Dr. Kellon has contacted each one of them and they’ll need a good reason to manufacturing the drug again,” she said.

Shortages are already showing up for horses using the brand Permax or using generic human Pergolide pills. One problem with Pergolide, Gordon said, is it has a very short shelf life – only six months for the pills. So, horse owners who do find the drug can’t even stock up. New supplies must constantly be made. Adding to the problem are legal difficulties. In an announcement sent out by Kellon, she noted that many horses relying on Pergolide get the drug from compounding pharmacies. Laws in the U.S. allow for compounding of veterinary drugs on the order of the treating veterinarian, but this compounding must be done using approved drugs as the base and not from bulk drug powders. Kellon said compounders could substitute imported bulk Pergolide powder in their products, purchased from drug wholesalers, but to do so at this time is illegal and at least half of the FDA approved bulk drug wholesalers who were carrying Pergolide have decided not to stock it since there is no legal market for it.