What is deutetrabenazine?

AUSTEDO XR extended-release tablets and AUSTEDO tablets are formulated with deutetrabenazine, a vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitor for oral administration. The molecular weight of deutetrabenazine is 323.46; the pKa is 6.31. Deutetrabenazine is a hexahydro-dimethoxybenzoquinolizine derivative and has the following chemical name: ( RR, SS )-1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 11b-hexahydro-9, 10-di(methoxy-d 3 )-3-(2-methylpropyl)-2H-benzo[a]quinolizin-2-one. The molecular formula for deutetrabenazine is C 19 H 21 D 6 NO 3 . Deutetrabenazine is a racemic mixture containing the following structures: Deutetrabenazine is a white to slightly yellow crystalline powder that is sparingly soluble in water and soluble in ethanol. AUSTEDO XR AUSTEDO XR extended-release tablets contain 6 mg, 12 mg, 18 mg, 24 mg, 30 mg, 36 mg, 42 mg, or 48 mg deutetrabenazine, and the following inactive ingredients: ammonium hydroxide, black iron oxide, butyl alcohol, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, cellulose acetate, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hypromellose, isopropyl alcohol, magnesium stearate, polyethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol 3350, polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl alcohol, propylene glycol, shellac, sodium chloride, talc, titanium dioxide, and FD&C red #40 lake. The 6 mg, 12 mg, 18 mg, 30 mg, 36 mg, and 42 mg extended-release tablets also contain FD&C yellow #6 lake.…

Can you take deutetrabenazine with other medicines?

It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run deutetrabenazine against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.

What brand names is deutetrabenazine sold under?

We track 2 deutetrabenazine-containing products in the U.S.: Austedo XR and Austedo. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.

What forms does deutetrabenazine come in?

Across the brands we track, deutetrabenazine is currently marketed as tablet, extended release, kit and tablet, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.

Is there a generic deutetrabenazine?

We do not currently list a generic-labelled deutetrabenazine product. That does not always mean none exists — it means none appears under a generic name in the FDA data we track. Ask your pharmacist.

Deutetrabenazine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands

Deutetrabenazine is a medicine sold in the U.S. under 2 brand and generic names, for tardive dyskinesia and chorea. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.

By the pharmaranks editorial teamReviewed against the FDA (openFDA label, NDC Directory & Enforcement) sourcesHow we research

Key facts

Treats: Tardive Dyskinesia and Chorea
Available as: Tablet, extended release · Kit · Tablet
Sold as: 2 products — Austedo XR and Austedo
Prescription?: Prescription only
Generic available?: Not in our catalog
Boxed warning: Boxed warning

How deutetrabenazine is dosed

From the FDA label for Austedo XR (application NDA216354). Other deutetrabenazine products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.

Recommended Starting Dosage 12 mg once daily (12 mg per day) 6 mg twice daily (12 mg per day) Titrate at weekly intervals by 6 mg per day based on reduction of chorea or tardive dyskinesia, and tolerability, up to a maximum recommended daily dosage of 48 mg ( 2.1 ) Administer AUSTEDO XR with or without food in once-daily doses ( 2.1 ) Administer AUSTEDO with food and administer total daily dosages of 12 mg or above in two divided doses ( 2.1 ) Swallow tablets whole; do not chew, crush, or break ( 2.1 ) If switching patients from tetrabenazine, discontinue tetrabenazine and initiate AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO the following day. See full prescribing information for recommended conversion table ( 2.2 ) Maximum recommended dosage of AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO in poor CYP2D6 metabolizers is 36 mg per day ( 2.4 , 8.7 ) 2.1 Dosing Information The dose of AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO is determined individually for each patient based on reduction of chorea or tardive dyskinesia and tolerability. Table 1 displays the recommended dosage and important administration instructions of AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO when first prescribed to patients who are not being switched from tetrabenazine (a related VMAT2 inhibitor). Table 1: Recommended Dosage and Important Administration Instructions for AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO AUSTEDO XR extended-release tablet AUSTEDO tablet Recommended Starting Dosage 12 mg once daily (12…

Deutetrabenazine side effects

The following serious adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the labeling: Depression and Suicidality in Patients with Huntington’s disease [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] QTc Prolongation [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Akathisia, Agitation, and Restlessness [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] Parkinsonism [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )] Sedation and Somnolence [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 )] Hyperprolactinemia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.8 )] Binding to Melanin-Containing Tissues [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.9 )] Most common adverse reactions (>8% of AUSTEDO-treated patients with Huntington’s disease and greater than placebo): somnolence, diarrhea, dry mouth, and fatigue ( 6.1 ) Most common adverse reactions (that occurred in 4% of AUSTEDO-treated patients with tardive dyskinesia and greater than placebo): nasopharyngitis and insomnia ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Teva Pharmaceuticals at 1-888-483-8279 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not…

Every deutetrabenazine product we track (2)

Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.

Deutetrabenazine products
#	Drug	Rating	Type	Form	Generic?	Typical price
1	Austedo XR Boxed warning	46/100	Prescription	Tablet	—	—	View →
2	Austedo

What deutetrabenazine pills look like

Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.

Deutetrabenazine pill imprints
Imprint	Strength	Colour	Shape	Maker
SD;6	6 mg	purple	round	—
SD;9	9 mg	blue	round	—
SD;12	12 mg	brown	round	—
Q12	12 mg	blue	round	—
Q24	24 mg	purple	round	—
Q30	30 mg	orange

Frequently asked questions

What is deutetrabenazine?: AUSTEDO XR extended-release tablets and AUSTEDO tablets are formulated with deutetrabenazine, a vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitor for oral administration. The molecular weight of deutetrabenazine is 323.46; the pKa is 6.31. Deutetrabenazine is a hexahydro-dimethoxybenzoquinolizine derivative and has the following chemical name: ( RR, SS )-1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 11b-hexahydro-9, 10-di(methoxy-d 3 )-3-(2-methylpropyl)-2H-benzo[a]quinolizin-2-one. The molecular formula for deutetrabenazine is C 19 H 21 D 6 NO 3 . Deutetrabenazine is a racemic mixture containing the following structures: Deutetrabenazine is a white to slightly yellow crystalline powder that is sparingly soluble in water and soluble in ethanol. AUSTEDO XR AUSTEDO XR extended-release tablets contain 6 mg, 12 mg, 18 mg, 24 mg, 30 mg, 36 mg, 42 mg, or 48 mg deutetrabenazine, and the following inactive ingredients: ammonium hydroxide, black iron oxide, butyl alcohol, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, cellulose acetate, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hypromellose, isopropyl alcohol, magnesium stearate, polyethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol 3350, polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl alcohol, propylene glycol, shellac, sodium chloride, talc, titanium dioxide, and FD&C red #40 lake. The 6 mg, 12 mg, 18 mg, 30 mg, 36 mg, and 42 mg extended-release tablets also contain FD&C yellow #6 lake.…
Can you take deutetrabenazine with other medicines?: It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run deutetrabenazine against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is deutetrabenazine sold under?: We track 2 deutetrabenazine-containing products in the U.S.: Austedo XR and Austedo. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does deutetrabenazine come in?: Across the brands we track, deutetrabenazine is currently marketed as tablet, extended release, kit and tablet, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.

Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.

Deutetrabenazine drug interactions

Concomitant use of strong CYP2D6 inhibitors: Maximum recommended dose of AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO is 36 mg per day ( 2.3 , 7.1 ) Alcohol or other sedating drugs: May have additive sedation and somnolence ( 7.5 ) 7.1 Strong CYP2D6 Inhibitors A reduction in AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO dose may be necessary when adding a strong CYP2D6 inhibitor in patients maintained on a stable dose of AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO. Concomitant use of strong CYP2D6 inhibitors (e.g., paroxetine, fluoxetine, quinidine, bupropion) has been shown to increase the systemic exposure to the active dihydro-metabolites of deutetrabenazine by approximately 3-fold. The daily dose of AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO should not exceed 36 mg per day in patients taking strong CYP2D6 inhibitors [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.3 ) and Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )]. 7.2 Reserpine Reserpine binds irreversibly to VMAT2 and the duration of its effect is several days. Prescribers should wait for chorea or dyskinesia to reemerge before administering AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO to help reduce the risk of overdosage and major depletion of serotonin and norepinephrine in the central nervous system. At least 20 days should elapse after stopping reserpine before starting AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO. AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO should not be used concomitantly with reserpine [see Contraindications ( 4 )] . 7.3 Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) AUSTEDO XR and…