Skip to main content

Austedo vs Ingrezza: How do they compare?

Medically reviewed by Melisa Puckey, BPharm. Last updated on Dec 4, 2024.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

How well does each medication work?

There have been separate Austedo (deutetrabenazine) clinical trials and Ingrezza (valbenazine) clinical trials to see how well they worked.

Tardive Dyskinesia

Chorea associated with Huntington’s Disease

How easy are they to take?

Take Austedo

Take Austedo XR

Take Ingrezza

Take Ingrezza Sprinkle Capsules

How safe are they?

Austedo, Austedo XR, Ingrezza and Ingrezza Sprinkle capsules have a Boxed Warning, specifically warning people that taking these medicines can increase the risk of developing depression, suicidal thoughts, and behavior (suicidality) in patients with Huntington’s disease.

What strengths are Austedo, Austedo XR, Ingrezza and Ingrezza Sprinkle available as?

Austedo

Austedo XR extended-release tablets are available as 6mg XR tablets, 12mg XR tablets, and 24mg XR tablets
Austedo tablets are available as 6mg tablets, 9mg tablets, and 12 mg tablets.

Ingrezza

Ingrezza capsules are available as 40 mg capsules, 60 mg capsule, and 80mg capsules.
Ingrezzas Sprinkle capsules are available as 40 mg, 60 mg, and 80 mg sprinkle capsules.

Who should not take these medications?

Some people should not take some medications if they have been or are on specific medications or have a particular health condition, these are called contraindications.

You should not take Austedo or Austedo XR if you:

You should not take Ingrezza or Ingrezza Sprinkles if you:

What serious side effects does each medicine have?

Austedo and Austedo XR: Depression and suicidality in patients with Huntington’s disease, QTc prolongation, neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), akathisia, agitation, restlessness, parkinsonism, sedation, somnolence, hyperprolactinemia and binding to melanin-containing tissues.

Ingrezza: Depression and suicidality in patients with Huntington’s disease, hypersensitivity reactions,sleepyiness and sedation, QT Prolongation, Parkinsonism and Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS).

Related questions

Table Comparing Austedo and Ingrezza

Austedo and Austedo XR Ingrezza
Boxed warning Depression and suicidality in patients with Huntington's Disease Depression and suicidality in patients with Huntington's Disease
Indications
(Adults)
Chorea associated with Huntington’s disease
Tardive dyskinesia
Chorea associated with Huntington’s disease
Tardive dyskinesia
Medicine Group VMAT2 inhibitors VMAT2 inhibitors
Dose Chorea: Starting at 6mg once daily and may increase if necessary up to 48mg daily (Austedo divided into 2 doses per day, Austedo XR once daily).
Tardive dyskinesia: 6mg twice daily and dose maybe increase up to 48mg daily (Austedo divided into 2 doses per day, Austedo XR once daily).
Chorea: Starting dose 40 mg once daily, and may Increase dose in 20 mg increments every two weeks if necessary up to 80 mg once daily.
Tardive dyskinesia: Starting dose is 40mg and maybe increased up to 80mg daily depending on dose and tolerability
Administration Austedo: Taken twice daily, with food
Austedo XR: once daily, with food.
Tablets should be swallowed whole, do not crush, chew or break tablets.
Ingrezza: Taken once daily, with or without food.
Ingrezza Sprinkle: Taken once daily, with or without food. May be swallowed whole with water. Do not crush or chew. Sprinkle capsules may be opened and sprinkled over soft food (do not use milk or drinking water).
Contraindications If you have Huntington's disease and have depression that is not treated or inadequately treated, or if you are suicidal.
Liver impairment.
If you have been taking reserpine in the last 20 days.
If you have been taking MAOI in the last 14 days.
If you are taking tetrabenazine(Xenazine) or vabenazine.
If you are hypersensitive to valbenazine or any ingredient of Ingrezza
Serious side effects Depression and suicidality in patients with Huntington’s disease, QTc prolongation, neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), sedation, sleepiness, Parkinsonism, Akathisia, agitation, restlessness.
Hyperprolactinemia, binding to melanin-containing tissues.
Depression and suicidality in patients with Huntington’s disease, QT prolongation, neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), sedation, sleepiness, Parkinsonism
Hypersensitivity
Treatment effectiveness:
(Drug effect - placebo effect = treatment effect)

Chorea effectiveness: Austedo (dose 6mg to 48 mg) up to 12 weeks had a treatment effect of reducing Total Maximal Chorea Score by -2.5 (-4.4- -1.9 = -2.5)

Tardive Dyskinesia Effectiveness:
Austedo 24mg by week 12 had a treatment effect of reducing AIMS score by -1.8 (-3.2 - -1.4= -1.8) This was not statistically significant.
Austedo 36mg by week 12 had a treatment effect of -1.9 (-3.3 - -1.4= -1.9) This was statistically significant.

Chorea effectiveness: Ingrezza up to 12 weeks had a treatment effect of reducing Total Maximal Chorea Score by –3·2 ( –4·6-–1·4, = –3·2)

Tardive Dyskinesia Effectiveness:
Ingrezza 40mg by week 6 had a treatment effect of reducing AIMS score by -1.8 (-1.9 - -0.1 = -1.8) This was not statistically significant.
Ingrezza 80mg by week 6 had a treatment effect of reducing AIMS score by -3.1 (-3.2 - -0.1= -3.1) which was statistically significant


Bottom Line:

References
 

Read next

Austedo vs Xenazine: How do they compare?

Deutetrabenazine (Austedo, Austedo XR) and tetrabenazine (Xenazine) primarily differ in their uses, chemical structure, pharmacokinetics and cost. The addition of deuterium (2H) to Austedo lengthens the duration of action and may reduce some side effects. Overall, the drugs are fairly similar with regards to drug class, warnings, and drug interactions.

Continue reading

How long does it take for Austedo to work?

Austedo (deutetrabenazine) starts working within two weeks, according to results of phase III clinical trials, which were conducted in patients with chorea associated with Huntington’s disease and tardive dyskinesia. Continue reading

What condition is Austedo used to treat?

Austedo (deutetrabenazine) is an oral prescription medication approved to treat Huntington’s chorea and tardive dyskinesia (TD). Austedo is classified as a vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitor. VMAT2 a protein that controls transfer of chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) between nerves in the brain between. These neurotransmitters help to control normal body movement or motor function. Continue reading

See also:

Related medical questions

Drug information

Related support groups