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How do you use the Austedo titration pack?

Medically reviewed by Melisa Puckey, BPharm. Last updated on Aug 7, 2025.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

What is the Austedo starter pack?

The Austedo titration (starter) pack contains tablets with increasing doses over four weeks to help minimize side effects while gradually reaching the dose that manages your symptoms. The purpose of the starter pack is to make it easy to take the correct tablets while the dose changes each week. After completing the starter pack, your doctor will continue adjusting your dose weekly using regular prescription tablets. When your symptoms are well controlled, your doctor will maintain you at this dose.

Austedo Titration Schedule

The Austedo titration pack starts with a dose of 6 mg twice daily in week one. The dose then increases weekly, to 9 mg twice daily in week two, 12 mg twice daily in week three, and 15 mg twice daily in week four. You may need to take a combination of different tablet strengths to make up the dose.

Not all patients will be prescribed the same schedule. Follow the dosing schedules prescribed by your doctor.

Austedo titration pack dose schedule

Austedo standard release tablets are taken twice daily.

Morning

Night

Week one

6mg (6mg tablet)

6mg (6mg tablet)

Week two

9mg (9mg tablet)

9mg (9mg tablet)

Week three

12mg (12 mg tablet)

12mg (12mg tablet)

Week four

15mg (6mg tablet +9mg tablet)

15mg (6mg tablet +9mg tablet)

After the Austedo titration pack, your doctor will prescribe tablets to continue increasing your dose weekly based on the reduction of chorea or tardive dyskinesia symptoms and how well you tolerate side effects. The maximum dose is 48 mg per day, taken as 24mg twice daily.

Austedo dose schedule from Week 5 to Week 7

Morning

Night

Week five

18mg (two 9mg tablets)

18mg (two 9mg tablets)

Week six

21mg (9mg tablet +12mg tablet)

21mg (9mg tablet +12mg tablet)

Week seven

24 mg (two 12mg tablets)

24 mg (two 12mg tablets)

Once you reach a dose where your symptoms are well controlled, your doctor will maintain you at this dose.
Not all patients will reach the maximum dose; the doctor will prescribe the lowest effective dose for the patient.

Related questions

Austedo XR tablets

The Austedo XR titration pack (starter pack) contains tablets with a step-by-step weekly increase in your dose over four weeks, to minimize side effects.

The Austedo XR titration pack dose starts at 12mg once a day for the first week, then increases in week two to 18mg tablet once daily, week three is 24mg tablet daily, and week four is 30mg tablet once daily.

Not all patients will follow the same schedule. Follow the dosing schedule prescribed by your doctor.

Austedo XR tablets are an extended-release tablet taken once daily.

Austedo XR titration pack dose schedule

Austedo XR

Once a Day Dose

Week one

12mg tablet

Week two

18mg tablet

Week three

24mg tablet

Week four

30mg tablet

After the Austedo XR titration pack, your doctor will prescribe tablets to continue increasing your dose weekly based on reduction of chorea or tardive dyskinesia symptoms and tolerability, up to a maximum recommended dose of 48 mg daily.

Austedo XR dose schedule from Week 5 to Week 7

Austedo XR

Once a Day Dose

Week five

36mg tablet

Week six

42mg tablet

Week seven

48mg tablet

Once you reach a dose where your symptoms are well controlled, your doctor will maintain you at this dose.

Not all patients will reach the maximum dose; the doctor will prescribe the lowest effective dose for the patient.

For more dosing information, see the Austedo Dosage page

Austedo Side effects

The most common Austedo side effects are sleepiness, diarrhea, dry mouth, fatigue, insomnia, and nasopharyngitis (common cold symptoms).

In patients being treated for Huntington’s disease, there is an increased risk of depression, and suicidal thoughts and behavior (suicidality). It is important to monitor for signs of new or worsening depression, suicidality, or unusual changes in behavior.

References

Austedo XR Start & Stay (Accessed August 7, 2025) brochure https://www.austedohcp.com/globalassets/austedohcp/td/resourcespage/aus-47497-start-and-stay-austedo-xr---pss-digital-brochure.pdf

Austedo XR Prescribing Accessed August 7, 2025) Information https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2025/208082s018,216354s008lbl.pdf

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