valbenazine
Brand names: Ingrezza
Ingrezza and Ingrezza Sprinkle are medicines used to treat movement problems. They can help with tardive dyskinesia and chorea caused by Huntington's disease.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 14,472 FDA adverse event reports.
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
Death-Related Reports
1,271
Hospitalization Reports
3,386
Top Indication
Tardive Dyskinesia
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 2,719 |
| 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 |
| 12 | OFF LABEL USE | 669 |
| 13 | ANXIETY | 654 |
| 14 | HOSPITALISATION | 650 |
| 15 | NAUSEA | 615 |
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.
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?
Are there any foods I should avoid while taking Ingrezza?
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
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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 14,472 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.
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