Should someone at 30 with TD ask their doctor about Austedo?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 30-year-old female and have been dealing with tardive dyskinesia for some time after years of taking psychiatric medications.

The facial and tongue movements are honestly hard to ignore, and some days I feel like everyone notices them, even though they probably do not.

My psychiatrist recently mentioned Austedo (Deutetrabenazine), but we have not discussed it in detail yet. I have read both success stories and negative experiences, and now I feel stuck trying to decide what to do.

For people living with tardive dyskinesia, was Austedo worth discussing with your doctor, and did it make a noticeable difference in your day-to-day life?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have gone through your query and understand your concern.

I can understand the frustration. Few people who use long-term antipsychotics develop tardive dyskinesia. It develops due to downregulation and supersensitive dopamine receptors.

First of all, be assured that it is a manageable condition, and in most cases it is reversible. However, the time taken for complete recovery is highly variable, ranging from a few weeks to months.

Austedo (Deutetrabenazine) is an FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved drug for tardive dyskinesia. It can be uptitrated according to response and tolerability.

Spontaneous remission in tardive dyskinesia occurs infrequently, particularly if the symptoms have been occurring for a considerable amount of time. It is vital to explore ways to treat this condition since spontaneity is not an option.

Treatment decisions should balance the potential benefits and risks, including possible adverse effects. Commonly reported side effects of Deutetrabenazine include somnolence, fatigue, insomnia, restlessness, and depressive symptoms, although many patients tolerate this medication well, and significant adverse effects are not encountered frequently in routine clinical practice.

I hope I have answered your question.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Thank you.