Ingrezza/Valbenazine Cost, Side effects, Dosage, Uses for Tardive Dyskinesia

Ingrezza/Valbenazine Cost, Side effects, Dosage, Uses for Tardive Dyskinesia. The FDA granted approval of Ingrezza to Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.

US FDA approved new drug Ingrezza that contains valbenazine as an active pharmaceutical ingredient for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia in adults. This first kind of therapy approved by US FDA as a licensed treatment for tardive dyskinesia. This drug belongs to therapeutic class termed as  vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitors.

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a severe and incurable form of dyskinesia characterized by repetitive involuntary body movements. It is termed as tardive because movements in this type of disorder are slow or belated onset. One of the major cause of this disorder is abusive use of anti psychotic drugs for a long term.

Exact underlying mechanism is still uncleared to somehow but many researcher and health care providers proposed over used of anti-psychotic drugs, smoking, neuro-degeneration, genetic predisposition, increase age are those factors that have strong correlation with this disease. Common manifestation of tardive dyskinesia are grimacing, eye blinking, lip smacking, tongue movements and lip puckering. Rapid involuntary movements of extremities may also occur. Respiratory problems like difficult breathing, grunting and respiratory depression may feel by patient suffering
tardive dyskinesia.

Ingrezza/Valbenazine is VMAT-2 inhibitor.It works by reducing the dopamine release into synaptic cleft by inhibiting VMAT2 at pre-synaptic area. VMAT2 are responsible for dopamine loading into synaptic vesicles to release them into synaptic cleft. Thus inhibition of VMAT2 creates reversible reduction of dopamine in synaptic cleft.

IngrezzaValbenazine Cost, Side effects, Dosage, Uses for Tardive Dyskinesia


Ingrezza/Valbenazine Side Effects


According to data provided by health authorities drug exhibit moderate to severe kind of side effects during clinical trials. These side effects were

  • Sleepiness 
  • Palpitation
  • Nervousness
  • Headache
  • Prolongation of QT interval
  • Cardiac Arrhythmia
  • Mental  

Ingrezza/Valbenazine Uses/Patient Information


This is the first drug approved by US FDA  (licensed treatment) for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia in adults. In pediatric patients safety profile of this drug has not yet been evaluated.

Ingrezza/Valbenazine Dosage


Standard dosage frequency of this drug is 40mg once a day but in some cases dosage frequency may increased up-to  80mg once a day orally after first week of therapy. Dose adjustment should be considered in case of liver or hepatic impairment. 

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