An oral medicine for tardive dyskinesia and Huntington's chorea
Deutetrabenazine
A medicine taken by mouth to reduce the involuntary movements of tardive dyskinesia and Huntington's chorea.
What is Deutetrabenazine?
Deutetrabenazine is a specialist medicine used to reduce involuntary, uncontrolled movements, such as the tardive dyskinesia that can follow some other medicines, and the chorea (jerky movements) of Huntington's disease. It is taken by mouth and works on a system in the brain that handles certain chemical messengers. The most important safety message is that it can cause or worsen depression and suicidal thoughts, so any low mood or such thoughts must be reported urgently. It can also cause slowed, stiff movements (parkinsonism), drowsiness and, less commonly, affect the heart's rhythm (the QT interval). It controls the movements rather than curing the underlying condition.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Deutetrabenazine — it deliberately contains no doses. Doses depend on the person, the brand and the reason for treatment, and belong with your prescriber. Always check the BNF, the product labelling (SmPC) and follow medical advice.
What it is
Deutetrabenazine is a medicine used to control unwanted, involuntary movements. It is used for tardive dyskinesia, a condition of repetitive, uncontrolled movements (often of the face and mouth) that can develop after taking certain other medicines, and for the chorea of Huntington's disease, an inherited condition that causes jerky, dance-like movements along with other symptoms. It is taken by mouth as tablets. It is a specialist medicine that needs careful supervision, particularly because of its effects on mood. It is prescribed and reviewed by a specialist team.
How it works
Deutetrabenazine works on a transporter in the brain called VMAT2, which is involved in packaging certain chemical messengers, including dopamine. By reducing the action of this transporter, it lowers the amount of these messengers released, which helps to dampen down the excessive, involuntary movements seen in tardive dyskinesia and Huntington's chorea. Because it changes the balance of these brain chemicals, it can also affect mood, alertness and movement more generally, which is why it must be used carefully and the dose adjusted under specialist guidance. It controls symptoms rather than altering the underlying condition.
Company & origin
Originated / developed by: Specialist manufacturer.
A specialist oral medicine used to treat the involuntary movements of tardive dyskinesia and the chorea of Huntington's disease.
Practical use
How to take Deutetrabenazine
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- Take it by mouth as your specialist team directs, usually with food, building up the dose slowly as advised.
- Seek help urgently if you notice low mood, hopelessness or any thoughts of harming yourself.
- Tell your team if you feel very drowsy, or develop slowed, stiff or shaky movements.
- Do not stop it suddenly without advice, and tell your prescriber about any heart-rhythm problems.
- Give a full list of your other medicines, as several can interact with deutetrabenazine.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Deutetrabenazine
Advantages
- Can reduce the involuntary movements of tardive dyskinesia and the chorea of Huntington's disease.
- Taken by mouth as tablets.
- A targeted option for movements that can be distressing and disabling.
Disadvantages
- Can cause or worsen depression and suicidal thoughts, so mood must be watched closely.
- Can cause drowsiness and parkinsonism (slowed, stiff movements), and may affect the heart's rhythm.
- Controls the movements but does not cure the underlying condition, and needs careful supervision.
Practical use
Good to know
The most important thing to understand about deutetrabenazine is its effect on mood: it can cause or worsen depression and suicidal thoughts, so you, your family and your team should watch closely for any low mood, hopelessness or thoughts of self-harm, and seek help urgently if they occur. This is especially important in Huntington's disease, where mood problems can already be present. Other key effects to know about are slowed, stiff or shaky movements like those of Parkinson's disease (parkinsonism), drowsiness and sleepiness, and, less commonly, an effect on the heart's electrical rhythm (the QT interval), which the team may check. It controls movements rather than curing the condition, and the dose is built up and adjusted carefully by the specialist team to balance benefit against side effects.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- It should not be used in people who are actively suicidal or have untreated or poorly controlled depression.
- It is avoided in people with significant liver problems and used with care where the heart's rhythm is a concern.
- It should not be combined with certain other medicines, including some used for depression (such as MAOIs) and other similar movement-disorder medicines, under specialist guidance.
Monitoring
- Watching closely for depression, mood changes and suicidal thoughts.
- Reviewing for parkinsonism, drowsiness and how well movements are controlled.
- Checking the heart's rhythm where appropriate and reviewing other medicines for interactions.
Side effects
- Depression, low mood and, importantly, suicidal thoughts, which must be reported urgently.
- Drowsiness, tiredness and sleepiness.
- Slowed, stiff or shaky movements like those of Parkinson's disease (parkinsonism).
- Less commonly, changes in the heart's rhythm (the QT interval) and restlessness.
Key interactions
- It must not be combined with certain antidepressants called MAOIs, and is used carefully with other medicines affecting mood.
- Medicines that affect the heart's QT interval should be reviewed when taking it.
- Other movement-disorder medicines, sedating medicines and alcohol can add to its effects, so a full medicines list is important.
Available as: Tablets taken by mouth.
Answers
Deutetrabenazine: frequently asked questions
What is deutetrabenazine used for?
It is used to reduce involuntary movements, such as tardive dyskinesia that can follow some other medicines and the chorea (jerky movements) of Huntington's disease.
What is the most important safety concern?
It can cause or worsen depression and suicidal thoughts, so any low mood or such thoughts must be reported and acted on urgently.
Will it make me sleepy?
Drowsiness and sleepiness are common, and it can also cause slowed, stiff movements; tell your team if these are troublesome so the dose can be reviewed.
Does it affect the heart?
It can affect the heart's electrical rhythm (the QT interval), so your team may check this and review other medicines that do the same.
Will it cure my condition?
No. It controls the unwanted movements but does not cure the underlying condition, so it is used under careful specialist supervision.
Authoritative sources
- BNF
- NICE CKS
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