What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
-Breast cancer
-Heart disease
-Irregular heartbeat or rhythm
-Liver disease
-Mental health condition
-Suicidal thoughts, plans, or attempt by you or a family member
-An unusual or allergic reaction to deutetrabenazine, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives
-Pregnant or trying to get pregnant
-Breast-feeding
What may interact with this medication?
Do not take this medication with any of the following:
-Cisapride
-Dextromethorphan;quinidine
-Dronedarone
-Ketoconazole
-Levoketoconazole
-MAOIs, such as phenelzine, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid, rasagiline, selegiline
-Pimozide
-Quinidine
-Reserpine
-Safinamide
-Tetrabenazine
-Thioridazine
-Valbenazine
This medication may also interact with the following:
-Alcohol
-Benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam, diazepam, lorazepam
-Bupropion
-Certain antihistamines
-Certain medications for depression, such as amitriptyline, fluoxetine, paroxetine, trazodone
-Certain medications for seizures, such as phenobarbital, primidone
-Medications for certain mental health conditions, such as aripiprazole, risperidone, ziprasidone, haloperidol, chlorpromazine
-Medications that cause drowsiness before a procedure, such as propofol
-Medications that help you fall asleep
-Medications that relax muscles
-Metoclopramide
-Opioids for pain or cough
-Other medications that cause heart rhythm changes
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
What should I watch for while using this medication?
Visit your care team for regular checks on your progress. Tell your care team if your symptoms do not start to get better or if they get worse.
Watch for new or worsening thoughts of suicide or depression. This includes sudden changes in mood, behaviors, or thoughts. These changes can happen at any time but are more common in the beginning of treatment or after a change in dose. Call your care team right away if you experience these thoughts or worsening depression.
This medication may affect your coordination, reaction time, or judgment. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Sit up or stand slowly to reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Drinking alcohol with this medication can increase the risk of these side effects.
What are the most serious risks of this medication?
Patients taking this medicine may be at risk for depression. Symptoms of depression include feeling sad, loss of interest in activities, sleeping too little or too much, feeling hopeless, changes in eating habits or hunger, trouble with concentration, and feeling tired all the time. Report mood changes of concern promptly to the treating doctor.
This medicine may increase thoughts about suicide. Patients of all ages and their families should watch out for new or worsening thoughts of suicide while taking this medicine. Report behaviors of concern promptly to the treating doctor.