General MedicinePrescription OnlyPregnancy Cat. Not classifiedFDA Yes

Austedo

DEUTETRABENAZINE

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE AUSTEDO XR ® and AUSTEDO ® are indicated in adults for the treatment of: chorea associated with Huntington’s disease [see Clinical Studies ( 14.1 )] tardive dyskinesia [see Clinical Studies ( 14.2 )] AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO are vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitors indicated in adults for the treatment of: Chorea associated with Huntington’s disease ( 1 ) Tardive dyskinesia ( 1 )

Medically reviewed by MedCentralHub Medical Review Board, Licensed Pharmacists & Physicians · May 2026

Brand names:AustedoAUSTEDOAUSTEDO XR

Rx Only

AustedoMedication

Quick Reference

Medicine ClassGeneral Medicine

FDA ApprovedYes

PregnancyCategory Not classified

Check Interactions Dosage Details

Quick Facts

Active ingredient: DEUTETRABENAZINE
Medicine class: General Medicine
Brand names: Austedo·AUSTEDO·AUSTEDO XR
Availability: Prescription only (Rx)
Pregnancy category: Not classified
Half-life: half-life of the active deuterated α-HTBZ, β-HTBZ, and total (α+β)-HTBZ metabolites is approximately
FDA approved: Yes

Austedo (DEUTETRABENAZINE) medication overview

What Is Austedo?

Austedo (DEUTETRABENAZINE) belongs to the General Medicine class of medications. It was first approved by the FDA in Yes. This medication requires a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider.

Key Safety Information

•Always follow the dose recommended by your healthcare professional. Taking more than prescribed increases the risk of side effects including serious complications.
•Seek emergency care if you experience signs of an allergic reaction — hives, swelling, difficulty breathing, or rash. Stop the medication and call your doctor immediately.
•Some medications can increase the risk of cardiovascular events. Tell your doctor if you have high blood pressure, a history of heart attack or stroke, or any pre-existing health condition.
•Avoid or limit alcohol while taking Austedo. Do not drink alcohol without first discussing it with your healthcare provider as it may increase adverse effects.
•Take Austedo with food or a full glass of water if stomach upset occurs. Stop use and talk to your doctor if you experience persistent stomach pain or GI symptoms.
•Tell your doctor about all medications, supplements, and vitamins you take. Some combinations significantly increase the risk of harm.

This is a summary only. Always read the full prescribing information and consult your healthcare provider for personalized medical advice.

Uses & Indications

Austedo is prescribed for the following conditions. Some uses are FDA-approved indications; others may be evidence-based off-label uses. Consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance.

Dosage Guide

The following are general dosing guidelines only. Your actual dose should be determined by your healthcare provider based on your condition, renal/hepatic function, and other medications.

Adult Dosage

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION AUSTEDO XR AUSTEDO Recommended Starting Dosage 12 mg once daily (12 mg per day) 6 mg twice daily (12 mg per day) Titrate at weekly intervals by 6 mg per day based on reduction of chorea or tardive dyskinesia, and tolerability, up to a maximum recommended daily dosage of 48 mg ( 2.1 ) Administer AUSTEDO XR with or without food in once-daily doses ( 2.1 ) Administer AUSTEDO with food and administer total daily dosages of 12 mg or above in two divided doses ( 2.1 ) Swallow tablets whole; do not chew, crush, or break ( 2.1 ) If switching patients from tetrabenazine, discontinue tetrabenazine and initiate AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO the following day. See full prescribing information for recommended conversion table ( 2.2 ) Maximum recommended dosage of AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO in poor CYP2D6 metabolizers is 36 mg per day ( 2.4 , 8.7 ) 2.1 Dosing Information The dose of AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO is determined individually for each patient based on reduction of chorea or tard

Available Forms

Available Strengths

View Complete Dosage Guide

Side Effects

Common

6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following serious adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the labeling: Depression and Suicidality in Patients with Huntington’s disease [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] QTc Prolongation [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Akathisia, Agitation, and Restlessness [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] Parkinsonism [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )] Sedation and Somnolence [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 )] Hyperprolactinemia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.8 )] Binding to Melanin-Containing Tissues [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.9 )] Most common adverse reactions (>8% of AUSTEDO-treated patients with Huntington’s disease and greater than placebo): somnolence, diarrhea, dry mouth, and fatigue ( 6.1 ) Most common adverse reactions (that occurred in 4% of AUSTEDO-treated patients with tardive dyskinesia and greater than placebo): nasopharyngitis and insomnia ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Teva Pharmaceuticals at 1-888-483-8279 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch .
6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
The studies described below were conducted with AUSTEDO tablets;
adverse reactions with AUSTEDO XR extended-release tablets are expected to be similar to AUSTEDO tablets.
Patients with Huntington’s Disease Study 1 [see Clinical Studies ( 14.1 )] was a randomized, 12-week, placebo-controlled study in patients with chorea associated with Huntington’s disease.
A total of 45 patients received AUSTEDO, and 45 patients received placebo.
Patients ranged in age between 23 and 74 years (mean 54 years);

Serious

5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS QT Prolongation: Avoid use in patients with congenital long QT syndrome or with arrhythmias associated with a prolonged QT interval ( 5.3 ) Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS): Discontinue if this occurs ( 5.4 ) Akathisia, agitation, restlessness, and parkinsonism: Reduce dose or discontinue if this occurs ( 5.5 , 5.6 ) Sedation/somnolence: May impair the patient’s ability to drive or operate complex machinery ( 5.7 ) 5.1 Depression and Suicidality in Patients with Huntington’s Disease Patients with Huntington’s disease are at increased risk for depression, and suicidal ideation or behaviors (suicidality).
AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO may increase the risk for suicidality in patients with Huntington’s disease.
In a 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, suicidal ideation was reported by 2% of patients treated with AUSTEDO, compared to no patients on placebo;
no suicide attempts and no completed suicides were reported.
Depression was reported by 4% of patients treated with AUSTEDO.

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Medicine Interactions

Always inform your healthcare provider and pharmacist about ALL medications you take, including prescriptions, OTC medicines, vitamins, and supplements.

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Warnings & Contraindications

5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS QT Prolongation: Avoid use in patients with congenital long QT syndrome or with arrhythmias associated with a prolonged QT interval ( 5.3 ) Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS): Discontinue if this occurs ( 5.4 ) Akathisia, agitation, restlessness, and parkinsonism: Reduce dose or discontinue if this occurs ( 5.5 , 5.6 ) Sedation/somnolence: May impair the patient’s abil

How Austedo Works

12.1 Mechanism of Action The precise mechanism by which deutetrabenazine exerts its effects in the treatment of tardive dyskinesia and chorea in patients with Huntington’s disease is unknown but is believed to be related to its effect as a reversible depletor of monoamines (such as dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and histamine) from nerve terminals. The major circulating metabolites (α-dihydrotetrabenazine [HTBZ] and β-HTBZ) of deutetrabenazine, are reversible inhibitors of VMAT2, resulting in decreased uptake of monoamines into synaptic vesicles and depletion of monoamine stores.

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption

Absorption Following oral administration of deutetrabenazine, the extent of absorption is at least 80%

Half-Life

half-life of the active deuterated α-HTBZ, β-HTBZ, and total (α+β)-HTBZ metabolites is approximately

Metabolism

metabolites because of the extensive hepatic metabolism of deutetrabenazine

Excretion

Excretion In a mass balance study in 6 healthy subjects, 75% to 86% of the deutetrabenazine dose was excreted in the urine, and fecal recovery accounted for 8% to 11% of the dose

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safety

Not classified

FDA Pregnancy Category Not classified

Consult your healthcare provider.

Full Pregnancy Information

Breastfeeding

Many medications pass into breast milk in varying amounts. Before using Austedowhile breastfeeding, discuss the benefits and risks with your healthcare provider or pharmacist — they can weigh your dose, your infant's age, and available lactation safety data to find the safest option for you and your baby.

Storage & Handling

Store at room temperature. Keep away from moisture and heat. Keep out of reach of children.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources & References

• FDA Prescribing Information — Official labeling and package insert for Austedo
• U.S. National Library of Medicine — MedlinePlus drug information
• American Hospital Formulary Service (AHFS) — Clinical pharmacology monograph
• PubMed / MEDLINE — View clinical studies

Last reviewed by MedCentralHub Medical Review Board · MedCentralHub Editorial Policy

Medical Disclaimer

The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist, or qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.