Valbenazine in tardive dyskinesia: a profile of its use

Abstract

Valbenazine (Ingrezza®) is an orally bioavailable, selective and reversible vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitor that is indicated for the once-daily treatment of adults with tardive dyskinesia (TD) in the USA. By inhibiting VMAT2, thereby interfering with the presynaptic uptake and storage of dopamine and other monoamines, valbenazine is thought to counteract the heightened postsynaptic dopaminergic activity that is believed to cause TD. In adults with dopamine-receptor blocking agent-induced TD and underlying schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or mood disorder, valbenazine was associated with rapid, significant and sustained on-treatment improvements in TD severity relative to placebo. Somnolence is the most common treatment-emergent adverse event associated with valbenazine and, importantly, depression and extrapyramidal symptoms have not been associated with its use.