R R

What Is Austedo?

Austedo is a prescription medicine containing deutetrabenazine, a vesicular monoamine transporter 2 inhibitor. It is approved for adults with chorea associated with Huntington disease and for adults with tardive dyskinesia. Immediate-release Austedo tablets come in 6 mg, 9 mg, and 12 mg strengths. Dosing is individualized according to symptom control, tolerability, CYP2D6 metabolism, and interacting medicines.

Link to This Resource Page

Provide a valuable resource to your clients or customers by linking to this resource page. Just place the following link on your website.

To display this...

What Is Austedo?

Austedo is a prescription medicine containing deutetrabenazine, a vesicular monoamine transporter 2 inhibitor. It is approved for adults with chorea associated with Huntington disease and for adults with tardive dyskinesia. Immediate-release Austedo tablets come in 6 mg, 9 mg, and 12 mg strengths. Dosing is individualized according to symptom control, tolerability, CYP2D6 metabolism, and interacting medicines.

read more about austedo ...

Copy this HTML:

Copy HTML Copied!

How Does Austedo Affect Monoamine Storage?

Deutetrabenazine is converted to active metabolites that reversibly inhibit vesicular monoamine transporter 2. This reduces uptake of dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and histamine into synaptic vesicles and lowers monoamine stores in nerve terminals. The exact way this action reduces Huntington disease chorea and tardive dyskinesia is not fully known.

Who Is Treated With Austedo?

Austedo is approved for adults with chorea associated with Huntington disease and adults with tardive dyskinesia. Treatment is individualized according to symptom severity and adverse reactions. In Huntington disease, the risks of depression and suicidal thoughts are weighed against the clinical need to reduce chorea before treatment begins.

How Are Austedo Tablets Dosed?

The recommended starting dose is 6 mg twice daily, for a total of 12 mg per day. The dose can increase by 6 mg per day at weekly intervals up to 48 mg per day according to response and tolerability. Austedo is taken with food, and total daily doses of 12 mg or higher are divided into two doses.

What Serious Risks Are Linked to Austedo?

Austedo carries a boxed warning for depression and suicidal thoughts and behavior in people with Huntington disease. Other serious concerns include neuroleptic malignant syndrome, akathisia, agitation, parkinsonism, sedation, and QT interval effects. Austedo is contraindicated in people with Huntington disease who are suicidal or have untreated or inadequately treated depression.

Frequently Asked Questions About Austedo

Is Austedo a VMAT2 inhibitor?

Yes. Deutetrabenazine and its active metabolites inhibit vesicular monoamine transporter 2 and reduce monoamine storage in nerve terminals.

What conditions does Austedo treat?

Austedo is approved for chorea associated with Huntington disease and tardive dyskinesia in adults.

Does Austedo need to be taken with food?

Yes. Immediate-release Austedo tablets are taken with food, and daily doses of 12 mg or higher are divided into two doses.

Does Austedo have a boxed warning?

Yes. The boxed warning covers depression and suicidal thoughts and behavior in people with Huntington disease.

References

AUSTEDO and AUSTEDO XR Medication Guide. https://www.austedo.com/globalassets/austedo/medication-guide.pdf. Date Accessed September 14, 2026.

AUSTEDO and AUSTEDO XR Prescribing Information. https://www.austedo.com/globalassets/austedo/prescribing-information.pdf. Date Accessed September 14, 2026.

DailyMed - AUSTEDO and AUSTEDO XR (deutetrabenazine) tablets. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=7ea3c60a-45c7-44cc-afc2-d87fa53993c0. Date Accessed September 14, 2026.

Deutetrabenazine. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a617022.html. Date Accessed September 14, 2026.

FDA Label - AUSTEDO and AUSTEDO XR (deutetrabenazine). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2025/208082s018%2C216354s008lbl.pdf. Date Accessed September 14, 2026.