Key Points
- Ingrezza (valbenazine) capsules are approved for the treatment of adults with tardive dyskinesia. Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is characterized by abnormal and repetitive movements of the trunk, extremities or face.
- Tardive dyskinesia is caused by dopamine blockade in the brain which can occur with longer-term antipsychotic treatment. Dopamine is a chemical neurotransmitter.
- Ingrezza, a highly selective vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitor, was the first product approved for adults with TD.
When should you take Ingrezza for tardive dyskinesia?
Ingrezza is a once daily oral medicine you take by mouth. Ingrezza comes as a 40 mg and 80 mg capsule. It can be taken with or without food. Take Ingrezza exactly when your doctor tells you to take it.
Your doctor will tell you how much Ingrezza to take and when to take it. Do not stop taking this medicine without first speaking to your doctor.
It is not known if Ingrezza is safe and effective for use in children.
Related: Ingrezza dosing (in more detail)
Is Ingrezza an antipsychotic agent?
No, Ingrezza is not an antipsychotic agent. It is a VMAT2 inhibitor (vesicular monoamine transporter-2 inhibitor). It works by blocking VMAT2 to slow the uptake of a brain chemical known as dopamine. This helps to reduce the unwanted body movements of tardive dyskinesia (TD) caused by long-term use of antipsychotics.
TD can cause repetitive movements in your body that you cannot control. These areas can include your arms, hands, legs, feet, face, lips, eyes or tongue. The face is the most common area where these uncontrollable movements occur.
Antipsychotics medicines are often use to treat bipolar disorder, depression or schizophrenia. Ingrezza is used to treat certain movement disorder side effects that may occur if you have been using antipsychotics for at least 3 months.
This is not all the information you need to know about Ingrezza (valbenazine) for safe and effective use. Review the full Ingrezza information here, and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.