Austedo (deutetrabenazine) is a brand-name drug that’s prescribed for certain movement disorders in adults. It comes as an oral tablet, Austedo, and an extended-release oral tablet, Austedo XR. It is typically taken once or twice per day.
Austedo and Austedo XR* are approved by the FDA to treat the following conditions in adults:
- tardive dyskinesia
- chorea that’s related to Huntington’s disease
Austedo belongs to a drug class called selective vesicular monoamine transporter 2 inhibitors. Austedo is not currently available as a generic version.
Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Austedo, including its strengths and how to take the medication. For a comprehensive look at Austedo, see this article.
Note: This article describes typical dosages for Austedo provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Austedo, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.
* Austedo XR is an extended-release (ER) oral tablet. With ER medications, the drug is slowly released into your body over time.
Below are the drug manufacturer’s recommended dosages of Austedo.
Austedo forms
Austedo comes as an oral tablet.
Austedo XR comes as an extended-release (ER) oral tablet.
Austedo strengths
Austedo comes in three strengths:
- 6 milligrams (mg)
- 9 mg
- 12 mg
Austedo XR comes in seven strengths:
- 6 mg
- 12 mg
- 24 mg
- 30 mg
- 36 mg
- 42 mg
- 48 mg
Typical dosages
Typically, your doctor will prescribe you a low dosage of Austedo. Then, they’ll adjust the dosage over time to reach the amount that’s right for you. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.
The following information describes dosages that are commonly taken or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosing schedule to fit your needs.
The following chart summarizes Austedo’s dosage. Your doctor will determine the dosage that’s best for you.
| Austedo forms | Strengths | Typical starting dosage | Maximum dosage |
|---|---|---|---|
| oral tablet | • 6 milligrams (mg) • 9 mg • 12 mg | 6 mg twice per day for a total of 12 mg per day | 24 mg twice per day for a total of 48 mg per day |
| ER oral tablet | • 6 mg • 12 mg • 24 mg • 30 mg • 36 mg • 42 mg • 48 mg | 12 mg once per day | 48 mg once per day |
Austedo dosage for tardive dyskinesia (TD)
To treat TD, the recommended starting dosage of Austedo is described below:
- oral tablet: 6 mg twice per day for a total of 12 mg per day
- ER oral tablet: 12 mg once per day
Your doctor will typically increase your total daily dose by 6 mg each week. This depends on how your body responds to the drug and if you have any side effects. They may increase your dose up to the maximum dose of 48 mg per day. This may be given as described below:
- oral tablet: 24 mg given twice per day
- ER oral tablet: 48 mg once per day
Austedo dosage for chorea that’s related to Huntington’s disease
To treat chorea that’s related to Huntington’s disease, the recommended starting dosage of Austedo is described below:
- oral tablet: 6 mg twice per day for a total of 12 mg per day
- ER oral tablet: 12 mg once per day
Your doctor will typically increase your total daily dose by 6 mg each week. This depends on how your body responds to the drug and if you have any side effects. They may increase your dose up to the maximum dose of 48 mg per day. This may be given as described below.
- oral tablet: 24 mg given twice per day
- ER oral tablet: 48 mg once per day
Long-term treatment
Austedo is meant to be taken as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Austedo is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.
If you have questions about how long you’ll take Austedo, talk with your doctor.
The Austedo dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:
- the type and severity of the condition you’re using Austedo to treat
- if you’re switching from a different medication to Austedo
- if you take certain other medications during treatment with Austedo
- any side effects from Austedo that you may experience
- how your body responds to Austedo
Other medical conditions you have can also affect your Austedo dosage.
Dosage adjustments
Your doctor may adjust your dosage if you’re switching from a drug called tetrabenazine (Xenazine). In this case, they’ll prescribe the recommended dosing schedule based on your original dosage of tetrabenazine.
If you have questions about dosage adjustments with Austedo, talk with your doctor.
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.
Austedo comes as an oral tablet. Austedo XR comes as an extended-release (ER) oral tablet.
You should swallow the tablets whole. Do not crush, break, or chew the tablets. If you have difficulty swallowing tablets, see this article for tips on how to take this form of medication. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
If you take Austedo oral tablets, you should take your dose with food. Usually, you’ll take Austedo oral tablets two times per day.
If you take Austedo XR oral tablets, you can take your dose with or without food. Usually, you’ll take Austedo ER oral tablets once per day.
It may be helpful to take the drug around the same time of day. This helps maintain a steady level of Austedo in your body so it can work effectively. However, be sure to take the drug exactly as your doctor prescribes it.
Until you know how your body responds to your Austedo dosage, be careful performing tasks that require you to be alert. These may include driving or operating heavy machinery. This is because Austedo can cause you to be tired or have reduced reaction time.
If you have questions about how to take Austedo, talk with your doctor.
ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERSIf you’re having difficulty reading your prescription label, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Some pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.
If you’re having difficulty opening medication bottles, ask your pharmacist about putting Austedo in an easy-open container. They also may recommend tools that can make it easier to open bottles.
If you miss your dose of Austedo, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it’s close to the time to take your next dose, skip the missed dose. Then, take your next dose at the regularly scheduled time.
You should not take two doses of Austedo at once. Doing so can increase your risk of serious side effects. (For more information about side effects of Austedo, see this article.)
If you miss your Austedo dose for more than 1 week, do not take another dose until talking with your doctor. They may restart your Austedo treatment with a different dosage.
To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or using a timer. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.
If you take more Austedo than your doctor prescribes, you may develop serious side effects. It’s important that you don’t take more Austedo than your doctor advises.
Symptoms of an overdose
Overdose symptoms of Austedo can include:
- nausea and vomiting
- sweating
- low blood pressure
- confusion
- diarrhea
- hallucinations
- redness or other color changes in the skin
- tremors
- tiredness
- rolling of your eyes upward and back
- involuntary muscle spasms
If you take more than the recommended amount of Austedo
Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Austedo. Another option is to call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency room.
The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Austedo for you, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. If you have questions about the dosage of Austedo that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.
Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Austedo. These additional articles might be helpful to you:
- More about Austedo: For information about other aspects of Austedo, refer to this article.
- Side effects: To learn about side effects of Austedo, see this article. You can also look at the Austedo prescribing information.
- Drug comparison: To find out how Austedo compares with Ingrezza and Xenazine, see the “Austedo vs. Ingrezza” and “Austedo vs. Xenazine” sections in this article.
- Interactions: For information about interactions of Austedo, see this article.
- Cost: If you’d like to learn about the cost of Austedo, read this article.
- Details about your condition: For details about tardive dyskinesia and chorea see our list of neurology and neuroscience articles.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today 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.
