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What is the impact
of HD chorea?

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a hereditary neurological disorder that affects nerve cells in the brain. For people with HD, an abnormal increase in the release of dopamine (the brain chemical responsible for movement) can cause chorea.1,2

Chorea can affect daily life for people with HD as well as their care partners.
Care partners reported chorea as the most impactful symptom of HD.3

Chorea is one of the most visible
symptoms of HD and can be treated1,4

Find out how

What HD chorea
signs look like5,6:

  • Flicking the fingers
  • Flailing arms or legs
  • Shrugging shoulders
  • Grimacing
  • Twisting or jerking
  • Irregular eye movements or blinking

These movements can be mild
to severe and may worsen
with stress. Over time, these movements cause a loss of independence.6,7

These movements can be mild to severe and may worsen with stress. Over time, these movements cause a loss of independence.6,7

How HD chorea can
impact daily life6,7:

  • Make walking and
    climbing stairs difficult

  • Affect your ability to
    brush teeth or bathe

  • Make getting dressed
    challenging

  • Affect your ability to eat or chew

  • Make it difficult to
    speak clearly

Nobody wants to be diagnosed with HD. But once it becomes part
of someone’s journey, the sooner you start to prepare, the better.

— HD care partner

Get the conversation going

Reduce the movements of HD chorea and their impact on your
day-to-day living. Use the Doctor Discussion Guide to help
start the conversation.

Get the guide
​​

Approved Uses

AUSTEDO® XR (deutetrabenazine) extended-release tablets and AUSTEDO® (deutetrabenazine) tablets are prescription medicines that are used to treat:

  • the involuntary movements (chorea) of Huntington’s disease. AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO do not cure the cause of the involuntary movements, and it does not treat other symptoms of Huntington’s disease, such as problems with thinking or emotions.
  • movements in the face, tongue, or other body parts that cannot be controlled (tardive dyskinesia).

It is not known if AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO are safe and effective in children.

Important Safety Information

AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO can cause serious side effects in people with Huntington’s disease, including: depression, suicidal thoughts, or suicidal actions. Do not start taking AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO if you are depressed (have untreated depression or depression that is not well controlled by medicine) or have suicidal thoughts. Pay close attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts or feelings. This is especially important when AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO is started and when the dose is changed. Call your healthcare provider right away if you become depressed, have unusual changes in mood or behavior, or have thoughts of suicide.

Do not take AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO if you:

  • have Huntington’s disease and are depressed or have thoughts of suicide.
  • have liver problems.
  • are taking reserpine. Do not take medicines that contain reserpine with AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO. If your healthcare provider plans to switch you from taking reserpine to AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO, you must wait at least 20 days after your last dose of reserpine before you start taking AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO.
  • are taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) medicine. Do not take an MAOI within 14 days after you stop taking AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO. Do not start AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO if you stopped taking an MAOI in the last 14 days. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure.
  • are taking tetrabenazine. If your healthcare provider plans to switch you from tetrabenazine to AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO, take your first dose of AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO on the day after your last dose of tetrabenazine.
  • are taking valbenazine.

Other possible serious side effects include:

  • Irregular heartbeat (QT prolongation). AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO increases your chance of having certain changes in the electrical activity in your heart. These changes can lead to a dangerous abnormal heartbeat. Taking AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO with certain medicines may increase this chance.
  • Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome. Call your healthcare provider right away and go to the nearest emergency room if you develop these signs and symptoms that do not have another obvious cause: high fever, stiff muscles, problems thinking, very fast or uneven heartbeat, or increased sweating.
  • Restlessness. You may get a condition where you feel a strong urge to move. This is called akathisia.
  • Parkinsonism. Symptoms include: slight shaking, body stiffness, trouble moving, trouble keeping your balance, or falls.

Sleepiness (sedation) is a common side effect of AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO. While taking AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO, do not drive a car or operate dangerous machinery until you know how AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO affects you. Drinking alcohol and taking other drugs that may also cause sleepiness while you are taking AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO may increase any sleepiness caused by AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO.

The most common side effects of AUSTEDO in people with Huntington’s disease include sleepiness (sedation), diarrhea, tiredness, and dry mouth.

The most common side effects of AUSTEDO in people with tardive dyskinesia include inflammation of the nose and throat (nasopharyngitis) and problems sleeping (insomnia).

The most common side effects of AUSTEDO XR are expected to be similar to AUSTEDO in people with Huntington’s disease or tardive dyskinesia.

These are not all the possible side effects of AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please read the accompanying Medication Guide.

 
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References:

1. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Huntington’s Disease: Hope through Research. National Institutes of Health; 2020. NIH publication 20-NS-19.

2. Antidopaminergic agents. Huntington’s Disease News. Accessed February 16, 2023. https://huntingtonsdiseasenews.com/antidopaminergic-agents/

3. Simpson JA, Lovecky D, Kogan J, Vetter LA, Yohrling GJ. Survey of the Huntington’s disease patient and caregiver community reveals most impactful symptoms and treatment needs. J Huntingtons Dis. 2016;5(4):395-403. doi:10.3233/JHD-160228.

4. AUSTEDO® XR (deutetrabenazine) extended-release tablets/AUSTEDO® tablets current Prescribing Information. Parsippany, NJ: Teva Neuroscience, Inc.

5. Tarapata K, Murray CF. A Caregiver's Guide to Huntington's Disease. Huntington's Disease Society of America; 2011. Accessed February 27, 2023. https://hdsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/A-Caregivers-Guide-to-HD.pdf

6. Burgess JC, Davis B, Fogarty E, et al. Caregiver Guide for Mid to Late Stage Huntington's Disease: For Long-Term Care Facilities and In-Home Care Agencies. Huntington's Disease Society of America; 2014. Accessed February 27, 2023. http://hdsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/CaregiverGuide_Mid_Late_StageHD.pdf

7. Warby SC, Graham RK, Hayden MR. Huntington disease: Synonym: Huntington chorea. In: Adam MP, Ardinger HH, Pagon RA, Wallace SE, eds. GeneReviews. University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2018.