Austedo and Austedo XR (deutetrabenazine) can cause side effects that range from mild to serious. More common side effects include diarrhea and drowsiness. If side effects from either drug become difficult to tolerate, talk with your doctor about coping tips or other treatment options.

Austedo and Austedo XR are vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitors (has a blocking action), not antipsychotic drugs. (“XR” stands for “extended release.” This means the drug is released into the body slowly over time.)

These drugs are prescribed for adults to treat:

This article discusses both drugs using the name Austedo. Exceptions specific to Austedo XR may be noted.

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects that Austedo can cause. To learn more about Austedo, including its uses, dosage, and cost, read this Austedo overview article.

Austedo has a boxed warning. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the “Side effects explained” section.

Below are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Austedo or Austedo XR in studies. These side effects can vary depending on the condition the drug is being taken to treat. Talk with your doctor if side effects do not go away, get worse, or become too difficult for you to tolerate.

More common side effects in people taking Austedo for chorea related to Huntington’s disease include:

  • drowsiness
  • diarrhea (To learn more, see the “Side effects explained” section.)
  • dry mouth
  • fatigue (lack of energy)

More common side effects in people taking Austedo for tardive dyskinesia include:

You may experience mild side effects from taking Austedo or Austedo XR. These side effects may vary depending on the condition Austedo is treating.

Mild side effects reported in people taking Austedo for chorea related to Huntington’s disease include:

  • drowsiness
  • diarrhea (To learn more, see the “Side effects explained” section.)
  • dry mouth
  • fatigue

Mild side effects reported in people taking Austedo for tardive dyskinesia include:

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. Some may be easily managed. But if you have any symptoms that are ongoing or that bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Do not stop taking Austedo unless your doctor recommends it.

Austedo may cause mild side effects other than the ones listed above. See the Austedo medication guide for details.

In rare cases, Austedo and Austedo XR may cause serious side effects in some people. Serious side effects that have been reported with Austedo include:

A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To learn more, see the “Side effects explained” section.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Austedo, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone. It gives doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Austedo, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Austedo can cause an allergic reaction. But this side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms. They also can determine whether you should keep taking Austedo.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911. Or call your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

Your doctor can confirm whether you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Austedo. If they do, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

The price you’ll pay for Austedo can vary. Your cost may depend on your treatment plan, the pharmacy you use, and any insurance coverage you have. To save money on your Austedo treatment, explore the coupon options below.

Risks of depression and suicidal thoughts or behaviors

Austedo has a boxed warning for the risks of depression and suicidal thoughts or behaviors in people with Huntington’s disease. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA.

People with Huntington’s disease who take Austedo may have a higher risk of depression and suicidal thoughts or behaviors. If you’ve ever had thoughts of self-harm, talk with your doctor before starting treatment with Austedo. They can discuss the risks and benefits of Austedo treatment with you.

What might help

Before taking Austedo, talk with your doctor about your medical history. If you have symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts, you should have treatment for depression before starting Austedo. You should not take Austedo if you experience depression or if you have current thoughts of suicide. This medication can make your symptoms worse.

Throughout your treatment with Austedo, your doctor will monitor you for symptoms of depression and suicidal thoughts or behaviors. If you have a history of depression or suicidal thoughts, your doctor may monitor you more often throughout your treatment.

Symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts and behaviors may include:

  • lack of enthusiasm for activities that used to interest you
  • feeling sad or anxious
  • fatigue (lack of energy)
  • changes in your appetite or sleep
  • thoughts of self-harm

During treatment with Austedo, contact your doctor or get emergency help right away if you experience symptoms of depression and suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

Help is out there

If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:

  • Call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. Caring counselors are available to listen and provide free and confidential support 24/7.
  • Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 to connect with a volunteer crisis counselor for free and confidential support 24/7.
  • Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
  • Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.

If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.

If you’re not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.

Parkinsonism

Parkinsonism may occur from taking Austedo. Although it’s uncommon, parkinsonism may occur in people taking Austedo for either tardive dyskinesia or chorea that’s related to Huntington’s disease.

Parkinsonism causes movement problems. Symptoms of parkinsonism may include:

What might help

Your doctor will monitor you for symptoms of parkinsonism during your treatment with Austedo. Most cases of parkinsonism occur within the first 2 weeks of Austedo treatment or after increasing your dose. In most cases, parkinsonism should go away after you stop taking Austedo.

If you develop symptoms of parkinsonism while taking Austedo, tell your doctor. They may lower your dose of Austedo to see if your symptoms ease. In some cases, they may recommend that you stop taking Austedo and try a different medication to treat your condition.

QTc prolongation

Taking Austedo may increase your risk of QTc prolongation, a heart rhythm problem that can be very serious. You may have a higher risk of QTc prolongation (sometimes called long QT syndrome) if you take other medications that also increase your risk of this side effect.

Symptoms of QTc prolongation may include:

What might help

If you develop symptoms of QTc prolongation, tell your doctor right away. Your doctor will also monitor you throughout your Austedo treatment to watch for signs of this condition. If you have any questions about your risk of QTc prolongation, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Diarrhea

Some people may experience diarrhea during treatment with Austedo. In studies, diarrhea was one of the most common side effects in people taking Austedo to treat chorea related to Huntington’s disease.

What might help

If you experience diarrhea during your Austedo treatment, talk with your doctor. They can recommend treatment to help relieve this side effect.

Keeping track of side effects

During your Austedo treatment, consider keeping notes on any side effects you’re having. Then you can share this information with your doctor. This is especially helpful when you first start taking new drugs or using a combination of treatments.

Your side effect notes can include things such as:

  • what dose of drug you were taking when you had the side effect
  • how soon after starting that dose you had the side effect
  • what your symptoms were from the side effect
  • how it affected your daily activities
  • what other medications you were an taking
  • any other information you feel is important

Keeping notes and sharing them with your doctor will help your doctor learn more about how a drug affects you. Your doctor can use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed.

Does Austedo cause weight gain?

Weight gain was not reported in studies of people taking Austedo for tardive dyskinesia or chorea related to Huntington’s disease.

Can I just stop taking Austedo?

Yes, you can likely stop taking Austedo without experiencing withdrawal symptoms. (Withdrawal symptoms can occur when you stop taking a drug that your body is used to.) But symptoms of your condition may return if you stop taking the drug.

Do not stop taking Austedo without first talking with your doctor. You should never make changes to your treatment plan without your doctor’s recommendation.

If you’d like to stop taking Austedo, talk with your doctor.

What are Austedo’s contraindications?

A contraindication is a factor or condition that could prevent your doctor from prescribing a drug due to the risk of harm. Austedo is contraindicated in people:

  • with Huntington’s disease who have suicidal thoughts or behaviors or who have depression that is not treated or is inadequately treated (See the “Side effects explained” section to learn more.)
  • who have liver damage
  • who take reserpine, which is a medication to treat high blood pressure. (You should wait at least 20 days after stopping reserpine before starting Austedo or Austedo XR.)
  • who take monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), which are medications that treat depression (During treatment with Austedo or Austedo XR, you should not take an MAOI. If you take an MAOI and stop it, you should wait 14 days before starting treatment with Austedo or Austedo XR.)
  • who take tetrabenazine or valbenazine, which are medications that treat certain movement disorders

Consider the following important information before starting Austedo.

Boxed warning: Risks of depression and suicidal thoughts or behaviors

Austedo has a boxed warning for the risks of depression and suicidal thoughts or behaviors in people with Huntington’s disease. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

People with Huntington’s disease who take Austedo may have a higher risk of depression and suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

To learn more, see the “Side effects explained” section.

Other precautions

Before taking Austedo, discuss your health history with your doctor. Austedo may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

Certain heart rhythm conditions that affect your QT interval: Austedo can raise your risk of developing a heart rhythm problem called QTc prolongation. If you already have a condition that affects your heart’s QT interval, Austedo may make your condition worse. Tell your doctor about any heart conditions that you have before you start Austedo treatment.

Allergic reaction: If you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to Austedo or any of its ingredients, you should not take Austedo. Ask your doctor what other medications are better options for you.

Liver problems: If you have any liver problems, tell your doctor before starting treatment with Austedo. This drug is cleared from your body by your liver. If your liver isn’t working correctly, your body may not be able to get rid of the drug. This can cause the levels of the drug to build up in your body, which can raise your risk of side effects. If you have certain liver problems, your doctor may recommend a different medication for your condition instead of Austedo.

Low blood levels of magnesium or potassium: If you have low blood levels of magnesium or low blood levels of potassium, taking Austedo may increase your risk of heart rhythm problems. Before prescribing Austedo, your doctor may recommend treatment for your low potassium or magnesium levels first. They may also order blood tests to check these levels during Austedo treatment.

Alcohol and Austedo

Alcohol and Austedo both can make you feel drowsy or tired. Drinking alcohol while you’re taking Austedo can make these side effects worse.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about how much (if any) is safe for you to drink during your Austedo treatment.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Austedo

It’s not known whether Austedo is safe to take during pregnancy. It’s also unknown whether it’s safe to take while breastfeeding. This is because studies haven’t found whether the drug passes into breast milk or what effects it may have on a child who’s breastfed.

If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding or planning either, talk with your doctor before starting Austedo treatment. They may recommend a different treatment option for your condition.

Austedo or Austedo XR can be an effective treatment for chorea that’s related to Huntington’s disease or for tardive dyskinesia. Some people taking Austedo may experience side effects. But in most cases, side effects from this medication are mild.

If you have questions about side effects that Austedo may cause, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Examples of some questions you may want to ask are:

  • How should I treat side effects if I experience any?
  • Based on my condition, what side effects am I most likely to experience?
  • If I experience side effects from Austedo, what other treatment options are available for my condition?
  • What can I do to lower my risk of side effects with this drug?

Q:

Could other medications that I take raise my risk of certain side effects from Austedo?

Anonymous

A:

Yes, some drugs may increase your risk of certain side effects from Austedo. For example, some drugs taken for depression (such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, or bupropion) may cause the level of Austedo to build up in your body. This could raise your risk of side effects.

If you’re taking medication for depression, talk with your doctor before starting treatment with Austedo. They may prescribe a lower dose of Austedo for you.

The Healthline Pharmacist TeamAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.