Tetrabenazine

Products

Tetrabenazine is commercially available in tablet form (Xenazine). It has been approved in many countries since 2008.

Structure and properties

Tetrabenazine (C19H27NO3, Mr = 317.4 g/mol) is a benzoquinolizine derivative.

Effects

Tetrabenazine (ATC N07XX06) has indirect antidopaminergic and transmitter depleting properties. It inhibits the uptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin into the salivary vesicles of presynaptic neurons. Tetrabenazine inhibits VMAT2 (human vesicular monoamine transporter type 2). This transporter transports neurotransmitters into the vesicles of neurons. Tetrabenazine is weakly directly antidopaminergic.

Indications

For the treatment of hyperkinetic movement disorders associated with Huntington’s chorea.