deutetrabenazine vs valbenazine
Side-by-side comparison of deutetrabenazine and valbenazine 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
7.6 Concomitant Tetrabenazine or Valbenazine AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO are contraindicated in patients currently taking tetrabenazine or valbenazine.
Recommendation: Do not take these two medications together; your doctor will have you stop one before starting the other.
Austedo
Ingrezza
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.
Ingrezza and Ingrezza Sprinkle are medicines used to treat movement problems. They can help with tardive dyskinesia and chorea caused by Huntington's disease.
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.
This medicine treats tardive dyskinesia in adults. Tardive dyskinesia causes repetitive, uncontrolled movements. It also treats chorea, which is involuntary, jerky movements, in adults with Huntington's disease.
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.
Ingrezza works by affecting a protein in your brain called VMAT2. This protein helps control the release of certain chemicals. By blocking VMAT2, Ingrezza helps reduce unwanted movements.
- • Feeling sleepy
- • Diarrhea
- • Dry mouth
- • Feeling tired
- • Runny nose
- • Sleepiness
- • Lethargy
- • Sedation
- • Urticaria (hives)
- • Rash
- The medicine is not working 924
- Feeling sad or hopeless 463
- Involuntary movements 403
- Death 402
- Shaking 330
- The medicine is not working 2,719
- Sleepiness 2,412
- Tiredness 1,646
- Shaking 1,539
- Uncontrolled movements 1,471
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.
Ingrezza can increase the risk of depression and suicidal thoughts in people with Huntington's disease. Your doctor will monitor you closely for any changes in mood or behavior. Tell your doctor right away if you have any thoughts of harming yourself.
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.
Ingrezza may harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. You should not breastfeed while taking Ingrezza.
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How to Read This deutetrabenazine vs valbenazine Comparison
deutetrabenazine is classified in the VMAT2 Inhibitor drug class, while valbenazine 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 valbenazine has 9,787. 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 medicines work in the same way, and taking them at the same time can cause the drug effects to become too strong and unsafe.. 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 valbenazine — 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.