deutetrabenazine vs tetrabenazine
Side-by-side comparison of deutetrabenazine and tetrabenazine Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
major Known Drug Interaction
7.7 Concomitant Deutetrabenazine or Valbenazine Tetrabenazine is contraindicated in patients currently taking deutetrabenazine or valbenazine.
Recommendation: You must not take these two medications at the same time. Talk to your doctor about which single treatment is right for you.
Austedo
Xenazine
Austedo and Austedo XR help control movements in adults with Huntington's disease or tardive dyskinesia. It works by changing the levels of certain chemicals in the brain.
Tetrabenazine is a medicine used to treat chorea (uncontrollable movements) caused by Huntington's disease. It helps to reduce these movements.
Austedo and Austedo XR are used to treat chorea (uncontrollable movements) caused by Huntington's disease. They also treat tardive dyskinesia, which causes repetitive, involuntary movements. These medicines can help you control these movements.
Tetrabenazine is used to treat chorea, which are the involuntary, jerky movements that happen with Huntington's disease. Huntington's disease is a brain disorder that affects movement, behavior, and thinking. This medicine can help control the movements caused by this condition.
Austedo and Austedo XR affect a protein in the brain called VMAT2. This protein helps move certain chemicals like dopamine. By blocking VMAT2, Austedo and Austedo XR help regulate these chemicals, which reduces unwanted movements.
Tetrabenazine works by affecting a substance in the brain that moves other chemicals. It lowers the amount of certain chemicals, like dopamine, in the brain. This helps to control the involuntary movements (chorea) caused by Huntington's disease.
- • Feeling sleepy
- • Diarrhea
- • Dry mouth
- • Feeling tired
- • Runny nose
- • Feeling sleepy or drowsy
- • Feeling tired
- • Trouble sleeping
- • Feeling depressed
- • Feeling restless
- The medicine is not working 924
- Feeling sad or hopeless 463
- Involuntary movements 403
- Death 402
- Shaking 330
- Death 1,212
- Using the medicine for something it's not approved for 1,121
- The medicine is not working 696
- Feeling sad or hopeless 475
- Feeling sleepy or drowsy 451
Austedo and Austedo XR can increase the risk of depression and suicidal thoughts in people with Huntington's disease. If you have Huntington's disease, your doctor will monitor you closely for any changes in your mood or behavior. Tell your doctor right away if you feel depressed or have thoughts of harming yourself. You should not take Austedo or Austedo XR if you are suicidal or have untreated depression.
Tetrabenazine can increase the risk of depression and suicidal thoughts in people with Huntington's disease. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, tell your doctor right away. You should not take this medicine if you are actively suicidal or have untreated depression.
It is not known if Austedo or Austedo XR will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if Austedo or Austedo XR passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you are taking this medicine.
This medicine may harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
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How to Read This deutetrabenazine vs tetrabenazine Comparison
deutetrabenazine is classified in the VMAT2 Inhibitor drug class, while tetrabenazine sits within the VMAT2 Inhibitor class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, deutetrabenazine has 2,522 submissions while tetrabenazine has 3,955. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known major interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to these two drugs are very similar and work in the same way to treat movement disorders. taking them together can lead to an overdose of the same medicine type and cause severe side effects.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between deutetrabenazine and tetrabenazine — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.