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How long does it take for Austedo to work?

Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on March 29, 2025.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

Austedo (deutetrabenazine) can start improving symptoms within two weeks, based on phase III clinical trials in patients with Huntington’s disease-associated chorea and tardive dyskinesia.

During the dose titration phase of these trials a continuous improvement in symptoms was observed. During the dose titration phase of these trials the dose of Austedo was optimized over six-to-eight weeks, or the dose of Austedo was titrated up over four weeks until the maximum dose the patient was assigned to receive was achieved.

How Quickly Does Austedo Work for Huntington’s Disease?

Improvements in Total Maximal Chorea (TMC) scores were observed by week 2 of a 12-week trial conducted in 90 patients with Huntington’s disease who received either Austedo or placebo.

How Quickly Does Austedo Work for Tardive Dyskinesia?

Improvements in Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) scores were observed by week 2 of two 12-weeks trials, which enrolled more than 300 patients with tardive dyskinesia who received either Austedo or placebo.

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Key Takeaways

This FAQ does not include all necessary information for the safe and effective use of Austedo. Always refer to the full prescribing information and discuss any concerns with your doctor or healthcare provider.

References
  • Huntington Study Group, Frank S, Testa CM, et al. Effect of Deutetrabenazine on Chorea Among Patients With Huntington Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2016;316(1):40-50. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.8655.
  • Anderson KE, Stamler D, Davis MD, et al. Deutetrabenazine for treatment of involuntary movements in patients with tardive dyskinesia (AIM-TD): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet Psychiatry. 2017;4(8):595-604. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(17)30236-5.
  • Fernandez HH, Factor SA, Hauser RA, et al. Randomized controlled trial of deutetrabenazine for tardive dyskinesia: The ARM-TD study. Neurology. 2017;88(21):2003-2010. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000003960.

Read next

Does Austedo cause weight gain?

Yes, weight gain is a possible side effect of Austedo (deutetrabenazine). However, it is not very common and individual responses to the medication can vary.

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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.

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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

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