Category: Movement disorders

Despite being used to treat a movement disorder often caused by antipsychotic medication, Ingrezza (valbenazine) is definitively not an antipsychotic drug itself. Ingrezza belongs to a completely different pharmacological class known as a vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitor.

Drug-induced parkinsonism (DIP) is one of the most common causes of secondary parkinsonism and can account for a significant portion of parkinsonism cases in the elderly. Knowing what medication is linked to Parkinson's is crucial for both diagnosis and appropriate management.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Ingrezza (valbenazine) was the first drug specifically approved to treat tardive dyskinesia. This medication's unique mechanism of action places it in the drug classification of vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitors.

Originally developed as an antiviral, amantadine has evolved into a crucial medication for several neurological conditions. A person may take amantadine to primarily manage symptoms related to Parkinson's disease and medication-induced movement disorders, though it also has other applications.

According to a 2025 market report, the medication safinamide, marketed under the brand name Equfina in Japan and some other Asian countries, is indicated for Parkinson's disease. This targeted therapy helps manage motor fluctuations in patients already receiving treatment with levodopa/carbidopa.

First approved by the FDA in 2008 as the first drug specifically for a symptom of Huntington's disease, tetrabenazine was a landmark treatment. So, what does tetrabenazine treat, and how does it manage the involuntary movements associated with certain neurological conditions?