Tag: Vmat2 inhibitors

VMAT2 inhibitors function by depleting monoamine neurotransmitters like dopamine in the brain, thereby controlling involuntary movements. This class of drugs, including tetrabenazine, deutetrabenazine, and valbenazine, is used to manage specific movement disorders like tardive dyskinesia and Huntington's chorea.

Based on data from 2013 to 2018, approximately 1.6% of adults in the U.S. use antipsychotic medications, a major class of drugs that can deplete dopamine [1.10.1]. Understanding **what drugs deplete dopamine** is crucial for recognizing potential side effects and health implications.

Since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved two novel VMAT2 inhibitors in 2017, the treatment paradigm for movement disorders like tardive dyskinesia and Huntington's chorea has been significantly modernized. These newer agents address long-standing challenges associated with earlier treatments, answering the critical question: **what are the new VMAT2 inhibitors** that offer improved efficacy and tolerability?

Deutetrabenazine, first approved by the FDA in 2017, is primarily classified as a vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitor. This medication, known by the brand names Austedo and Austedo XR, is a specifically modified version of the older drug tetrabenazine, designed for improved pharmacokinetics.

Affecting over 500,000 people in the United States, tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a medication-induced movement disorder that can cause involuntary muscle movements [1.3.1]. A common question is, **what drug makes you keep sticking out your tongue?** This symptom is a hallmark of TD.