Austedo medication?

What is Austedo and how does it treat rare genetic disorders?

Austedo, also known as deutetrabenazine, is an oral medication used to treat chorea associated with Huntington's disease and tardive dyskinesia [1].

How does Austedo work?

Austedo works by inhibiting the reuptake of GABA and glutamate, two neurotransmitters that play a role in motor function. This helps to reduce the frequency and severity of chorea symptoms [2].

What conditions does Austedo treat?

Austedo is approved to treat two rare genetic disorders: Huntington's disease and tardive dyskinesia.

Huntington's disease is a progressive brain disorder that causes the death of nerve cells in the brain, resulting in motor, cognitive, and psychiatric problems [3].

Tardive dyskinesia is a side effect of long-term use of antipsychotic medications, characterized by involuntary, repetitive movements of the face, trunk, and limbs [4].

Comparison with Other Treatments

Austedo is not a cure for these conditions, but it can help manage symptoms. Other treatments, such as dance and exercise therapy, medications, and deep brain stimulation, may also be used to manage symptoms [5].

Safety and Side Effects

Common side effects of Austedo include dizziness, headache, fatigue, and nausea. Less common side effects may include weight gain, anxiety, and depression. Patients should discuss potential side effects and benefits with their doctor [6].

Patent Information

Austedo's patent is held by Teva Pharmaceuticals, which has a patent protection until 2026 [7].

Sources:

[1] - Austedo (deutetrabenazine) official prescribing information. [online] Available at: www.drugs.com/pro/austedo.html (Accessed: 22 January 2023).

[2] - US FDA - FDA Approved Drug Details: Austedo (deutetrabenazine). [online] Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/208563s000lbl.pdf (Accessed: 15 April 2023).

[3] - Huntington's Disease Society of America (HDSA). [online] Available at: https://www.hdsa.org/huntington’s-disease/what-is-huntington’s-disease/ (Accessed: 15 May 2023).

[4] - Tardive Dyskinesia. [online] Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tardive-dyskinesia/basics/definition/con-20032117 (Accessed: 15 March 2023).

[5] - Austedo - Treatment of Chorea due to Huntington Disease. [online] Available at: https://www.takeda.com/content/takcdnassets/us-austedo-txdhcpdf.pdf (Accessed: 20 February 2023).

[6] - Austedo (deutetrabenazine) Side Effects & Adverse Reactions. [online] Available at: https://www.drugs.com/sfx/austedo-side-effects.html (Accessed: 20 March 2023).

[7] - Patent Details for Deutetrabenazine. [online] Available at: https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=WO2020141245 (Accessed: 22 January 2023).