Prescription medication · VMAT2 Inhibitor
valbenazine
Also sold as Ingrezza. This medicine treats tardive dyskinesia in adults.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 24,340
- FDA reportsModerately reported
- 4
- InteractionsFew interactions
- $249.94
- Brand price (NADAC)
What the data shows
valbenazine (Ingrezza) is a prescription VMAT2 Inhibitor, reported at a middle-of-the-pack volume (24,340 FDA reports), with 4 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
valbenazine (Ingrezza) is a prescription VMAT2 Inhibitor. This medicine treats tardive dyskinesia in adults.
Ingrezza and Ingrezza Sprinkle are medicines used to treat movement problems. They can help with tardive dyskinesia and chorea caused by Huntington's disease.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$249.94/unit
Generic Available
No
NEUROCRINE
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective November 21, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This medicine treats tardive dyskinesia in adults.
Common side effects
Sleepiness, Lethargy, Sedation
Key warnings
Ingrezza can increase the risk of depression and suicidal thoughts in people with Huntington's disease.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from valbenazine's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
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.
How to Take It
Start with 40 mg once a day. After one week, your doctor may increase your dose to 80 mg once a day. You can take Ingrezza with or without food. If using Ingrezza Sprinkle, you can open the capsule and sprinkle it on soft food like applesauce. Do not use milk or water. You can also swallow the Sprinkle capsule whole.
This is a plain-language summary of valbenazine's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
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.
This is a plain-language summary of valbenazine's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
This is a plain-language summary of valbenazine's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store Ingrezza capsules at room temperature, between 59°F and 86°F. Store Ingrezza Sprinkle capsules between 68°F and 77°F, and protect from moisture.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 24,340 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for valbenazine, by number of reports
- Sleepiness
Sleepiness
2,412 reports
- Tiredness
Tiredness
1,646 reports
- Shaking
Shaking
1,539 reports
- Uncontrolled movements
Uncontrolled movements
1,471 reports
- Falling down
Falling down
1,104 reports
- Feeling lightheaded 930
Feeling lightheaded
930 reports
- Death 912
Death
912 reports
- Excessive saliva 881
Excessive saliva
881 reports
- The medicine is less effective 858
The medicine is less effective
858 reports
- Involuntary movements 826
Involuntary movements
826 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for valbenazine each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where valbenazine sits
valbenazine has more FDA adverse-event reports than 59% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is valbenazine; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 24,340 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2017–2025.
Total Reports
24,340
Reports Mentioning Death
1,271
5.2% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
3,386
Top Indication
Tardive Dyskinesia
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | SOMNOLENCE | 2,412 |
| 3 | FATIGUE | 1,646 |
| 4 | TREMOR | 1,539 |
| 5 | TARDIVE DYSKINESIA | 1,471 |
| 6 | FALL | 1,104 |
| 7 | DIZZINESS | 930 |
| 8 | DEATH | 912 |
| 9 | DROOLING | 881 |
| 10 | THERAPEUTIC PRODUCT EFFECT DECREASED | 858 |
| 11 | DYSKINESIA | 826 |
| 13 | ANXIETY | 654 |
| 14 | HOSPITALISATION | 650 |
| 15 | NAUSEA | 615 |
| 16 | PARKINSONISM | 598 |
| 17 | ADVERSE DRUG REACTION | 558 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
7.6 Concomitant Tetrabenazine or Valbenazine AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO are contraindicated in patients currently taking tetrabenazine or valbenazine.
Mechanism: 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.
What to do: Do not take these two medications together; your doctor will have you stop one before starting the other.
7.7 Concomitant Deutetrabenazine or Valbenazine Tetrabenazine is contraindicated in patients currently taking deutetrabenazine or valbenazine.
Mechanism: These medications are designed to do the same thing in the brain to control body movements. Using both at once increases the risk of dangerous side effects because they have the same target.
What to do: Do not use these drugs together. Your healthcare provider should prescribe only one of these medicines to manage your condition.
Digoxin Clinical Implication: Concomitant use of INGREZZA or INGREZZA SPRINKLE with digoxin increased digoxin levels because of inhibition of intestinal P-glycoprotein (P-gp) [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] . Prevention or Management: Digoxin concentrations should be monitored when co-administering INGREZZA or INGREZZA SPRINKLE with digoxin. Increased digoxin exposure may increase the risk of exposure-related adverse reactions.
Mechanism: Valbenazine blocks a protein in the gut that normally pumps digoxin out of the body, which causes digoxin levels in the blood to rise.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor your digoxin blood levels closely to prevent side effects from the higher drug concentration.
Valbenazine Concomitant drug dose reduction is necessary. Refer to the valbenazine prescribing information for dosing instructions.
Mechanism: Itraconazole prevents your body from processing valbenazine normally. This causes the drug to reach higher levels in your blood.
What to do: Your doctor must reduce your dose of valbenazine. Check the specific dosing guide for valbenazine for the correct amount to take.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
Common Questions
Can I crush or chew Ingrezza Sprinkle capsules?
Can I take Ingrezza with food?
What should I do if I experience side effects?
Can Ingrezza cause depression?
How often will I see the doctor when taking Ingrezza?
What if I have liver problems?
What if I am a CYP2D6 poor metabolizer?
Can I drive while taking Ingrezza?
What if I have a hypersensitivity reaction?
What are the common side effects of valbenazine?
Does valbenazine interact with other medications?
What drug class is valbenazine?
Is valbenazine safe during pregnancy?
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Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for valbenazine
The FDA label for valbenazine (sold under brand names such as Ingrezza) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the VMAT2 Inhibitor class. This medicine treats tardive dyskinesia in adults. Official labeling lists 6 commonly reported side effects, including Sleepiness, Lethargy, Sedation.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 24,340 voluntary reports. The database also lists 4 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: October 1, 2025
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages