Tetrabenazine
About Tetrabenazine
Tetrabenazine is in a class of medications called vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitors. It is used in the treatment of Huntington's disease. Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited disease that causes certain nerve cells in the brain to waste away. People are born with a defective genes.
Tetrabenazine contains tetrabenazine, which works by depleting the stores of certain chemical messengers in the brain that helps in controlling body movements.
Use Tetrabenazine as prescribed by your doctor. The common side-effects of Tetrabenazine are nausea, insomnia (difficulty sleeping), anxiety, fatigue, sleepiness, akathisia (inability to stay still), and depression. Most of these side effects fade away gradually over time without the need for medical intervention. However, consult your doctor if you experience these side effects frequently.
To treat your condition effectually, continue using Tetrabenazine for as long as your doctor has prescribed it. Do not use Tetrabenazine without a doctor's advice if you have a skin reaction or irritation to any medicine. Consult your doctor before using Tetrabenazine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Do not use Tetrabenazine in more than prescribed doses or longer duration as it may cause adverse effects. Keep your doctor informed about your health condition and all the medicines you take before taking Tetrabenazine to rule out any side effects.
Uses of Tetrabenazine
Medicinal Benefits
Overactive secretion of chemicals like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine in the brain causes degeneration of nerves, due to which you may lose the ability to control your thoughts, emotions, or movements. This Tetrabenazine works by reducing the overactivity of these natural substances in the brain that transmits signals between the nerves and, in turn, lowers brain signals that trigger involuntary muscle movements.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Tetrabenazine
- Nausea
- Insomnia (difficulty in sleeping)
- Anxiety
- Fatigue
- Sleepiness
- Akathisia (inability to stay still)
- Depression
Drug Warnings
You may have unusual changes in mood or behaviour, trouble sitting still, or feel nervous and irritable. Sit or stand slowly if you feel dizzy. Check the progress of Tetrabenazine at regular doctor visits and keep track of the symptoms and side effects if you notice any. It may make some people severely depressed and increase the risks of suicidal thoughts and tendencies. Do not take these medicines together with other medications such as risperidone and MAO inhibitors. Do not use if you are severely depressed and are on current treatment with antidepressants.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Care should be exercised when Tetrabenazine is administered in combination with MAO inhibitors (isocarboxazid, linezolid, rasagiline, selegiline, methylene blue injection), antipsychotic medicine or mental/mood conditions (quetiapine, olanzapine, escitalopram, haloperidol, clozapine), to avoid serious drug interactions.
Drug-Food Interactions: Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of Tetrabenazine such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating. Some people may also experience impairment in thinking and judgment. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with Tetrabenazine.
Drug-Disease Interactions: People affected with arrhythmias (an irregular heartbeat), depression, liver, kidney diseases, and Huntington disease (an inherited condition in which nerve cells in the brain break down over time) should not take this Tetrabenazine.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionIt causes excessive sleepiness if you consume alcohol while taking this Tetrabenazine.
Pregnancy
cautionIf you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, speak to your doctor before taking the Tetrabenazine. It may harm the unborn baby.
Breast Feeding
cautionDo not take Tetrabenazine or stop using it immediately if you are breastfeeding.
Driving
cautionIt causes drowsiness and impairs your ability to drive carefully.
Liver
cautionIf you have a history of liver disease/conditions, Tetrabenazine should be taken with caution. However, dose adjustments will be made by the doctor accordingly.
Kidney
cautionIf you have a history of kidney diseases, Tetrabenazine should be taken with caution. However, dose adjustments will be made by the doctor accordingly.
Children
unsafeIt is not recommended for treatment in children.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Maintain a healthy weight. Stay physically active.
- Consume fresh fruits and vegetables. Avoid spicy, salty, and deep-fried foods. Eating healthy can help you to recover faster.
- Avoid tea, coffee, and cold drinks.
- Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. Fluids are necessary to maintain blood flow in your body.
- Avoid the intake of alcoholic beverages as it can make you dehydrated and also can affect your sleep.
- Avoid physical and psychological stress.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Huntington's disease is a condition in which bodily movements cannot be controlled. People with this disease have excess stores of certain natural substances secreted by the brain, causing uncontrollable body movements. Tetrabenazine acts by depleting the availability of these extra chemicals that affects the activity of muscles and nerves. These movements may be sudden, irregular, shaky, and jerky. You can experience dizziness, lightheadedness, decreased appetite, difficulty speaking, and trouble swallowing. This disease occurs when the genes from the ancestors or immediate family members are passed to the next generations. It is an inherited disease, and not everyone gets it.
FAQs
Tetrabenazine contains tetrabenazine, which works by depleting the stores of certain chemical messengers in the brain that helps in controlling body movements.
No, if you forget to take one dose, never make up for the missing dose by doubling it at the next time. Instead, please continue with the next dose when it is due.
No, if taken more than the recommended dose, you may develop drowsiness, sweating, low blood pressure, and extremely low body temperature. Contact your doctor right away in this case.
No, do not take Tetrabenazine instead reach out to your doctor if you are intolerant to sugars because these tablets contain lactose.
No, do not stop taking Tetrabenazine on your own unless instructed by your doctor. Abruptly stopping may lead recurrence of disease conditions.
