About HD Chorea

HD chorea disrupts patients’ independence and well-being¹

More than 2 out of 3 patients report that chorea negatively impacts their quality of life in the following areas*:

Activities of
daily living

Emotional
well-being

Vocational/
recreational
activities

Social
life

Chorea also impacts caregiver well-being, making it more difficult for them to assist their loved ones¹

Most patients with HD chorea depend on their caregivers for help with self-care activities, but chorea also impacts various areas of caregivers’ own lives, including^1,2*:

Activities of
daily living

Emotional
well-being

Vocational/
recreational
activities

Social
life

*In a real-world study including 192 patients and 233 caregivers.¹

No clinical trials have been conducted to suggest that treating HD chorea affects the outcomes listed above.

Real-world survey evaluating the impact of HD chorea on patients’ and caregivers’ quality of life¹

Consider early treatment for patients impacted by HD chorea

Explore clinical and real-world data on treatment

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Onscreen text:

A patient talks about how she had to stop work as a legal secretary due to her Huntington’s disease.

Eileen:

Well, it affected me and my working.

I’m not working anymore, I’m on disability, and I, uh…

It’s…’cause I can’t read as much, like I used to read. Um…

Rajeev Kumar:

What kind of work did you used to do?

Eileen:

I was a legal secretary.

Rajeev Kumar:

And how did it interfere with reading and doing your job?

Eileen:

It interfered with my reading pleadings and emails, um.

I can’t comprehend reading anymore. And I’ve been reading my whole life.

Um, I don’t read books like I used to.

In fact, I don’t read them at all.

And it has affected me in ways of eating.

I drop my food, I drop…I fall over. I fall on occasion.

^†^†Time period: 01/2025 through 09/2025.¹

REFERENCES: 1. Data on file. Parsippany, NJ: Teva Neuroscience, Inc. 2. Claassen DO, DeCourcy J, Mellor J, Johnston C, Iyer RG. Impact of chorea on self-care activity, employment, and health-care resource use in patients with Huntington’s disease. J Health Econ Outcomes Res. 2021;8(1):99-105.

Important safety information

Depression and Suicidality in Patients with Huntington’s Disease: AUSTEDO XR^® and AUSTEDO^® can increase the risk of depression and suicidal thoughts and behavior (suicidality) in patients with Huntington’s disease. Balance the risks of depression and suicidality with the clinical need for treatment of chorea. Closely monitor patients for the emergence or worsening of depression, suicidality, or unusual changes in behavior. Inform patients, their caregivers, and families of the risk of depression and suicidality and instruct them to report behaviors of concern promptly to the treating physician. Exercise caution when treating patients with a history of depression or prior suicide attempts or ideation. AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO are contraindicated in patients who are suicidal, and in patients with untreated or inadequately treated depression.

Contraindications: AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO are contraindicated in patients with Huntington’s disease who are suicidal, or have untreated or inadequately treated depression. AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO are also contraindicated in: patients with hepatic impairment; patients taking reserpine or within 20 days of discontinuing reserpine; patients taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), or within 14 days of discontinuing MAOI therapy; and patients taking tetrabenazine or valbenazine.

Clinical Worsening and Adverse Events in Patients with Huntington’s Disease: AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO may cause a worsening in mood, cognition, rigidity, and functional capacity. Prescribers should periodically re-evaluate the need for AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO in their patients by assessing the effect on chorea and possible adverse effects.

QTc Prolongation: AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO may prolong the QT interval, but the degree of QT prolongation is not clinically significant when AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO is administered within the recommended dosage range. AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO should be avoided in patients with congenital long QT syndrome and in patients with a history of cardiac arrhythmias.

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS), a potentially fatal symptom complex reported in association with drugs that reduce dopaminergic transmission, has been observed in patients receiving tetrabenazine. The risk may be increased by concomitant use of dopamine antagonists or antipsychotics. The management of NMS should include immediate discontinuation of AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO; intensive symptomatic treatment and medical monitoring; and treatment of any concomitant serious medical problems.

Akathisia, Agitation, and Restlessness: AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO may increase the risk of akathisia, agitation, and restlessness. The risk of akathisia may be increased by concomitant use of dopamine antagonists or antipsychotics. If a patient develops akathisia, the AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO dose should be reduced; some patients may require discontinuation of therapy.

Parkinsonism: AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO may cause parkinsonism in patients with Huntington’s disease or tardive dyskinesia. Parkinsonism has also been observed with other VMAT2 inhibitors. The risk of parkinsonism may be increased by concomitant use of dopamine antagonists or antipsychotics. If a patient develops parkinsonism, the AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO dose should be reduced; some patients may require discontinuation of therapy.

Sedation and Somnolence: Sedation is a common dose-limiting adverse reaction of AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO. Patients should not perform activities requiring mental alertness, such as operating a motor vehicle or hazardous machinery, until they are on a maintenance dose of AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO and know how the drug affects them. Concomitant use of alcohol or other sedating drugs may have additive effects and worsen sedation and somnolence.

Hyperprolactinemia: Tetrabenazine elevates serum prolactin concentrations in humans. If there is a clinical suspicion of symptomatic hyperprolactinemia, appropriate laboratory testing should be done and consideration should be given to discontinuation of AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO.

Binding to Melanin-Containing Tissues: Deutetrabenazine or its metabolites bind to melanin-containing tissues and could accumulate in these tissues over time. Prescribers should be aware of the possibility of long-term ophthalmologic effects.

Common Adverse Reactions: The most common adverse reactions for AUSTEDO (>8% and greater than placebo) in a controlled clinical study in patients with Huntington’s disease were somnolence, diarrhea, dry mouth, and fatigue. The most common adverse reactions for AUSTEDO (4% and greater than placebo) in controlled clinical studies in patients with tardive dyskinesia were nasopharyngitis and insomnia. Adverse reactions with AUSTEDO XR extended-release tablets are expected to be similar to AUSTEDO tablets.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning.

HD chorea disrupts patients’ independence and well-being1

More than 2 out of 3 patients report that chorea negatively impacts their quality of life in the following areas*:

Chorea also impacts caregiver well-being, making it more difficult for them to assist their loved ones1

Consider early treatment for patients impacted by HD chorea

Watch as Eileen discusses how HD chorea has impacted her life, and in particular, her work

HD chorea disrupts patients’ independence and well-being¹

Chorea also impacts caregiver well-being, making it more difficult for them to assist their loved ones¹