Tetrabenazine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• nausea.
• diarrhea.
• vomiting.
• decreased appetite.
• headache.
• pain or burning upon urination.
• bruising.
• difficulty speaking or being understood.

Does tetrabenazine have side effects?

Commonly reported side effects of tetrabenazine include: drowsiness, sedated state, bradykinesia, hypertonia, muscle rigidity, depression, exacerbation of depression, akathisia, and restlessness. Other side effects include: dysphagia, anxiety, and dizziness. See below for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.

Does tetrabenazine cause insomnia?

The most common side effects included drowsiness (36.5%), parkinsonism (28.5%), depression (15.0%), insomnia (11.0%), nervousness or anxiety (10.3%), and akathisia (9.5%). The side effects were controlled with reduction in the dosage.

How long does it take tetrabenazine to work?

When will tetrabenazine start working? Improvements may be seen in as little as 1 to 2 weeks. However, it can sometimes take up to 6 weeks to see the full benefits of the medication.

Can you just stop taking tetrabenazine?

You should not stop using tetrabenazine suddenly or your symptoms may return. Talk to your doctor before you stop taking this medicine.

What does tetrabenazine treat?

Tetrabenazine is used to treat chorea (sudden movements that you cannot control) caused by Huntington’s disease (an inherited disease that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain). Tetrabenazine is in a class of medications called vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitors.

Can you drink alcohol while taking tetrabenazine?

Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of tetrabenazine such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating. Some people may also experience impairment in thinking and judgment. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with tetrabenazine.

Can tetrabenazine cause tremors?

tremors, shaking, restless movement, problems with balance; uncontrolled muscle movements in your face (chewing, lip smacking, frowning, tongue movement, blinking or eye movement);

What is another name for tetrabenazine?

Tetrabenazine is a drug for the symptomatic treatment of hyperkinetic movement disorders. It is sold under the brand names Nitoman and Xenazine among others. On August 15, 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of tetrabenazine to treat chorea associated with Huntington’s disease.

Can tetrabenazine be crushed?

See prescribing information for converting patients from tetrabenazine. Deutetrabenazine can be discontinued without tapering but must be retitrated if stopped for greater than one week. Administer with food and swallow tablets whole; do not crush, break or chew. dose is 36 mg (18 mg twice daily).

How does tetrabenazine treat chorea?

TBZ cannot fix the proteins that are damaged in HD, but it can help reduce one of their harmful effects: chorea. Recall that chorea is believed to be caused by increased activity of the neurotransmitter dopamine. TBZ exerts its anti-choreic effects by reducing the amount of dopamine in the brain in two ways.

What is tetrabenazine FDA approved for?

Xenazine (tetrabenazine) is a selective and reversible centrally-acting dopamine depleting drug indicated for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington’s disease.

What is tetrabenazine MOA?

Tetrabenazine is a reversible human vesicular monoamine transporter type 2 inhibitor (Ki = 100 nM). It acts within the basal ganglia and promotes depletion of monoamine neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine from stores. It also decreases uptake into synaptic vesicles.

Does tetrabenazine cause weight gain?

Weight increase was 0.8 lb/mo in the tetrabenazine group compared with 1.7 lb/mo in the neuroleptic group (P =. 006). Most patients who switched from a neuroleptic drug to tetrabenazine subsequently lost weight.

Is tetrabenazine an antipsychotic?

Tetrabenazine (TBZ) was initially synthesized in the 1950s by O Schneider and A Brossi at the research laboratory of Hoffmann-La Roche in Basel. They created TBZ as an antipsychotic drug as part of their research into simpler chemical compounds with reserpine-like activity.