DEPRESSION AND SUICIDALITY
XENAZINE can increase the risk of depression and suicidal thoughts and behavior (suicidality) in patients with Huntington’s disease. Anyone considering the use of XENAZINE must balance the risks of depression and suicidality with the clinical need for control of choreiform movements. Close observation of patients for the emergence or worsening of depression, suicidality, or unusual changes in behavior should accompany therapy. Patients, their caregivers, and families should be informed of the risk of depression and suicidality and should be instructed to report behaviors of concern promptly to the treating physician.
Particular caution should be exercised in treating patients with a history of depression or prior suicide attempts or ideation, which are increased in frequency in Huntington’s disease. XENAZINE is contraindicated in patients who are actively suicidal, and in patients with untreated or inadequately treated depression (see CONTRAINDICATIONS; WARNINGS - Risk of Depression and Suicidality; and PRECAUTIONS - Information for Patients).
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XENAZINE SUMMARY
Pediatrics:
XENAZINE (tetrabenazine) is a monoamine depletor for oral administration.
XENAZINE is indicated for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington’s disease.
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NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Published Studies Related to Xenazine (Tetrabenazine)
A study of chorea after tetrabenazine withdrawal in patients with Huntington disease. [2008.05]
OBJECTIVE: To assess tetrabenazine (TBZ) efficacy by evaluating the change in Huntington disease-associated chorea resulting from TBZ treatment withdrawal... CONCLUSIONS: The trend for reemergence of chorea in patients with Huntington disease who were withdrawn from TBZ treatment is consistent with the findings from previous studies, thus showing the effectiveness of TBZ in reducing chorea.
Treatment of chorea associated with Huntington's disease: focus on tetrabenazine. [2009.07]
CONCLUSION: HD is often accompanied by chorea, and the treatment with TBZ in this patient population often results in decreased chorea. Pharmacists managing patients on TBZ need to be well versed in TBZ's potential side effects, drug interactions, and unique dosing considerations.
[Therapeutic use of tetrabenazine] [2009.05.16]
CONCLUSIONS: Tetrabenazine appears to be an excellent pharmacological agent for use in a number of pathologies that are accompanied by hyperkinesias; it is well tolerated and has few complications or side effects deriving from its administration.
Treatment of the symptoms of Huntington's disease: preliminary results comparing aripiprazole and tetrabenazine. [2009.01.15]
Aripiprazole (AP), a dopamine (DA) D(2) receptor partial agonist, has recently been used to reduce schizophrenic symptoms, while tetrabenazine (TBZ), a DA depletor, has been used to treat hyperkinesias in Huntington's disease (HD)...
The long-term effect of tetrabenazine in the management of Huntington disease. [2008.11]
OBJECTIVES: To enhance the knowledge on the long-term efficacy and safety of tetrabenazine (TBZ) in managing chorea... CONCLUSIONS: Tetrabenazine was well tolerated and produced long-term improvement of motor symptoms in Huntington disease patients, although a slight reduction of benefit occurred during the course of treatment.
Clinical Trials Related to Xenazine (Tetrabenazine)
Neuroleptic and Huntington Disease Comparison of : Olanzapine, la Tetrabenazine and Tiapride [Recruiting]
Huntington's disease (HD) is autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease, starting in
average (with high variability) in the fourth decade. The disease progression is classically
characterized by a cognitive deterioration (cortical-frontal dementia), motor disorders
(associating chorea, dystonia and bradykinesia), psychiatric disturbances (combining
depression and irritability) and metabolic disorder (cachexia). The disease is fatal within
15 to 20 years in most patients. HD has no cure. Neuroleptics are the main drug used and the
only to demonstrate its efficacy on chorea in clinical trials. But neuroleptics have also
beneficial and adverse effects on other disease characteristics (motor, psychiatric,
cognitive or metabolic). Their profile between beneficial and adverse effects could be
different according the neuroleptics and their classification. The aim of this study is to
compare beneficial and adverse effects of 3 different neuroleptics in HD.
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Page last updated: 2009-10-20
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