Tetrabenazine

Tetrabenazine tablets are used to treat involuntary movements (chorea) caused by Huntington's disease, which is a rare, inherited disease that causes nerve cells in the brain to breakdown and die. Tetrabenazine helps control involuntary body movement of Huntington’s disease, but does not help the psychiatric and thinking (cognitive) symptoms, and it does not cure the disease. Tetrabenazine is thought to work by changing the level of natural substances in the brain that control muscle movement. Tetrabenazine (Brand name: Xenazine ) is from the class of medications called vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitors. Tetrabenazine has its effect by blocking the protein VMAT2 which lowers the amount of messenger chemicals (dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and histamine) in the nerve cells, which is how it is thought to help control involuntary body movements.

Tetrabenazine tablets are used to treat involuntary movements (chorea) caused by Huntington's disease, which is a rare, inherited disease that causes nerve cells in the brain to breakdown and die. Tetrabenazine helps control involuntary body movement of Huntington’s disease, but does not help the psychiatric and thinking (cognitive) symptoms, and it does not cure the disease. Tetrabenazine is thought to work by changing the level of natural substances in the brain that control muscle movement. Tetrabenazine (Brand name: Xenazine ) is from the class of medications called vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitors. Tetrabenazine has its effect by blocking the protein VMAT2 which lowers the amount of messenger chemicals (dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and histamine) in the nerve cells, which is how it is thought to help control involuntary body movements.

You should not use tetrabenazine if you are allergic to it or any of the inactive ingredients, or if you have: severe or untreated depression; suicidal thoughts; liver disease; or if you have taken reserpine in the past 20 days. Do not use tetrabenazine if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others. To make sure tetrabenazine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have: depression, an emotional disorder, or mental illness; a history of suicidal thoughts or actions; past or present breast cancer ; heart disease or heart rhythm disorder; a personal or family history of long QT syndrome ; or if you recently had a heart attack . Taking tetrabenazine may increase your risk of depression or thoughts about suicide. Your doctor should check your progress at regular visits. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Pregnancy It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Breastfeeding It is not known whether tetrabenazine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breastfeed while using this medicine.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives ; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety , panic attacks , trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself. Tetrabenazine may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have: tremors, shaking, restless movement, problems with balance; uncontrolled muscle movements in your face (chewing, lip smacking, frowning, tongue movement, blinking or eye movement); trouble swallowing; fast or pounding heartbeats; a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out; or severe nervous system reaction--very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever , sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats.

You may have depression or thoughts about suicide while taking tetrabenazine. Stay alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor. You should not use tetrabenazine if you have severe or untreated depression, suicidal thoughts, liver disease, or if you have taken reserpine in the past 20 days. Do not use tetrabenazine if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid , linezolid , methylene blue injection, phenelzine , rasagiline , selegiline , tranylcypromine , and others.

You may have depression or thoughts about suicide while taking tetrabenazine. Stay alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor. You should not use tetrabenazine if you have severe or untreated depression, suicidal thoughts, liver disease, or if you have taken reserpine in the past 20 days. Do not use tetrabenazine if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid , linezolid , methylene blue injection, phenelzine , rasagiline , selegiline , tranylcypromine , and others.

12.5 mg (12 (12.5)) 8 hourly PO — This can be increased by 12.5 mg a day every 3 to 5 days until the maximal tolerated and effective dose is reached for the individual, and may have to be up/down titrated depending on individual tolerance. In most cases the maximal tolerated dose will be 25 mg t.i.d. In very rare cases, a 200 mg dose has been reached . Scraped Dose — Take tetrabenzaine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results. Do not use tetrabenazine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. You may take tetrabenazine tablets with or without food. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse. You should not stop using tetrabenazine suddenly or your symptoms may return. Talk to your doctor before you stop taking this medicine.

No child dosage information is recorded for this medicine yet.

No neonatal dosage information is recorded for this medicine yet.

Other drugs may interact with tetrabenazine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using. It is important to tell your doctor if you take: reserpine monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs); alcohol or other sedating drugs; Drugs that cause QTc prolongation including antipsychotic medications (e.g., chlorpromazine, haloperidol, thioridazine, ziprasidone), antibiotics (e.g., moxifloxacin), Class 1A (e.g., quinidine, procainamide) and Class III (e.g., amiodarone, sotalol) antiarrhythmic medications or any other medications known to prolong the QTc interval; neuroleptic drugs (e.g., chlorpromazine, haloperidol, olanzapine, risperidone, thioridazine, ziprasidone); strong CYP2D6 inhibitors; deutetrabenazine or valbenazine. For more information on interactions with tetrabenazine click on the link below.

Tab Store in a well closed container, at room temperature, Below 30°C.