Deutetrabenazine for TD

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a disabling and disfiguring movement disorder seen amongst people who have received long-term treatment with antipsychotic drugs.Treatment options are limited, but a recently published open-label long-term study has assessed the effects of deutetrabenazine at a dose of up to 48 mg/day (titrating against response). Parameters assessed included incidence of adverse events (AEs) and scales used to monitor parkinsonism, akathisia/restlessness, anxiety, depression, suicidality and somnolence/sedation, as well as the industry standard Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) score. The mean change in AIMS score was –4.9 (0.4) at Week 54 (n = 146), – 6.3 (0.7) at Week 80 (n = 66) and –5.1 (2.0) at Week 106 (n = 8). The study, which can be viewed here, suggests that this drug may prove to be an effective strategy for the management of this difficult adverse effect.