Valbenazine Capsule: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Valbenazine Capsule (generic name: valbenazine) is a prescription medicine belonging to the VMAT2 inhibitor drug class. It is used by adults to treat tardive dyskinesia and chorea caused by Huntington's disease. It comes as a capsule or sprinkle capsule and is typically taken once a day.

What is Valbenazine Capsule

Valbenazine is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with tardive dyskinesia (uncontrollable movements of the face, tongue, or other body parts) and chorea (sudden movements you cannot control) caused by Huntington's disease. It comes as a capsule or sprinkle capsule.

Valbenazine Capsule uses

• Tardive dyskinesia (uncontrollable movement of the face, tongue, or other body parts)
• Chorea (sudden movements that you cannot control) caused by Huntington's disease

Benefits of Valbenazine Capsule

• May reduce involuntary movements.
• May help improve control over facial and tongue movements.
• May make speaking and eating easier when movements improve.
• May reduce embarrassment or distress caused by abnormal movements.
• May improve daily functioning.

How Valbenazine Capsule works

Valbenazine blocks a transporter in the brain called VMAT2, which normally helps package and release certain brain chemicals, including dopamine. By blocking this transporter, the medicine lowers the amount of these chemicals being released, which helps reduce uncontrolled movements.

Valbenazine Capsule dosage

Take this medicine with or without food, once a day, at around the same time every day. Take it exactly as directed by your doctor; do not take more or less, or more often, than prescribed.

Swallow capsules whole with water; do not crush or chew them. If using sprinkle capsules, you can open them and sprinkle the contents onto a small amount of soft food such as applesauce, yogurt, or pudding, stir, and swallow right away without chewing the beads, then drink a glass of water. Sprinkle capsules can also be swallowed whole with water instead of being opened.

If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember, but if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular schedule; do not take a double dose. Your doctor will likely start you on a low dose and may raise it gradually every one or two weeks depending on how your body responds.

Available forms and strengths

• Capsule
• Sprinkle capsule

Side effects of Valbenazine Capsule

Common

• Sleepiness/drowsiness
• Tiredness
• Restlessness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Joint or back pain
• Headache
• Constipation
• Dry mouth
• Difficulty urinating
• Blurred vision
• Dizziness or balance problems

Serious

• Rash; hives; itching; or swelling of the face, lips, or mouth
• Fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; shortness of breath; dizziness; fainting or loss of consciousness
• Fever, sweating, confusion, fast or irregular heartbeat, or muscle stiffness
• Shaking; drooling; stiffness; difficulty moving, walking, or keeping your balance; or falling
• New or worsening depression or thoughts about harming or killing yourself

Warnings and precautions

• Valbenazine may increase the risk of depression or suicidal thoughts. Tell your doctor if you have a history of depression, anxiety, psychosis, or thoughts of harming yourself. Family or caregivers should watch for new or worsening depression, agitation, trouble sleeping, aggressive behavior, or other unusual changes in mood or behavior and call the doctor right away if these occur.
• This medicine can cause a heart rhythm problem called QT prolongation, which can lead to fainting or dangerous heart rhythms. The risk is higher in people taking certain other medicines or who process the drug more slowly. Avoid use if you have long QT syndrome or certain arrhythmias.
• Valbenazine may cause Parkinson-like symptoms such as shaking, stiffness, drooling, and trouble walking or keeping balance, sometimes severe. These can occur especially in the first two weeks after starting or increasing the dose.
• Do not take this medicine with certain other drugs called MAO inhibitors, or within two weeks of stopping them, since this combination can be dangerous.
• Serious allergic reactions can occur, including swelling of the face, lips, or mouth, rash, hives, or itching.
• Valbenazine may harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
• You should not breastfeed while taking valbenazine and for 5 days after your final dose.
• Valbenazine does not undergo primary processing by the kidneys. No dose change is needed for mild-to-moderate kidney impairment, but it is not recommended for people with severe kidney impairment.
• People with moderate or severe liver problems need a lower dose. Tell your doctor if you have liver disease.
• Alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this medication. Do not drink alcohol while taking valbenazine.
• This medicine may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how it affects you.

Storage

• Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children
• Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom)
• Dispose of unneeded medications in a way so that pets, children, and other people cannot take them
• Do not flush this medication down the toilet; use a medicine take-back program
• Keep all medication out of sight and reach of children

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away if you have signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Call your doctor right away if you have a fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat, pounding or fluttering in your chest, shortness of breath, or feel like you might faint.
• Call your doctor right away if you develop shaking, stiffness, drooling, or trouble moving, walking, or keeping your balance.
• You, your family, or caregiver should call your doctor right away if you notice new or worsening depression, thoughts of harming or killing yourself, extreme worry, agitation, trouble sleeping, aggressive or hostile behavior, irritability, acting without thinking, severe restlessness, anxiety, weight changes, loss of interest in social activities, trouble paying attention, or other unusual changes in behavior.
• If someone takes too much of this medicine, get emergency medical help right away or contact a poison control center.

Alternatives

• Amantadine
• Clonazepam
• Deutetrabenazine