Living with Uncontrolled Body Movements? What You Need to Know About Austedo

Do you ever feel like your own body is moving without your permission? It can feel very scary and helpless when your hands, face, or body start twitching, jerking, or twisting while you try to talk, eat, or sign your name.

These sudden and uncontrolled movements make everyday life hard. They can also make you feel worried about being around other people. If you or someone you love deals with these challenges, you are not alone, and help is available.

Today, we will look at a medicine called Austedo. We will explain how it works, how to use it safely, and what side effects you might experience along the way.

Two Main Conditions That Cause Uncontrolled Body Movements

Doctors prescribe Austedo primarily to treat two specific medical conditions that cause involuntary muscle movements. Let us explore both conditions in simple terms.

First is chorea due to Huntington's disease. This is an inherited health condition that runs in families. Over time, nerve cells in the brain break down, which leads to trouble with thinking, emotions, and body control. Chorea refers to the sudden, jerky, and twisting movements that happen without your control.

Second is tardive dyskinesia (TD). This condition also causes repeated, involuntary movements in your face, eyes, mouth, hands, and feet. The most common cause is taking certain medicines for mental health conditions, such as antipsychotics, over a long period of time.

How Austedo Works Inside Your Body

Your brain acts like a massive message center. It uses tiny nerve cells to send messages to your muscles telling them when to move and when to stop. Special chemical messengers called neurotransmitters carry these signals back and forth.

Think of neurotransmitters like mail carriers. They carry important letters and instructions from your brain directly to your muscles.

Dopamine is one of these main message carriers. In both chorea and tardive dyskinesia, these dopamine messengers send way too many messages to your muscles. Your muscles receive constant signals that say "move, move, move," which causes your body to shake and twist.

Austedo works by slowing down these extra messages. It helps calm the traffic in your brain so your muscles stop receiving so many accidental signals.

How to Use This Medicine Properly

Pharmacies supply Austedo in two main tablet types. Your doctor will choose the right one for your specific daily routine.

• Regular tablets: You usually take these by mouth one or two times every day with food.
• Austedo XR tablets: This is an extended-release tablet. It releases the medicine slowly into your body throughout the entire day, so you generally take it just once a day.

Your doctor will always start you on a very low starting dose. After that, they will raise your dose little by little each week until they find your ideal maintenance dose that controls your symptoms best. Always follow your doctor's exact instructions for changing your dose.

Important Tips When Taking Your Medicine

• Take regular Austedo tablets with food. You can take Austedo XR tablets with or without food.
• Never cut, crush, or chew the tablets. Swallow them whole with a full glass of water.
• If you take Austedo XR, your body absorbs the medicine while leaving an empty shell behind. You might sometimes notice this empty shell in your bowel movements. This is completely normal and safe.
• If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and stay on your normal schedule. Never take two doses at the exact same time to make up for a missed one. Ask your doctor if you feel unsure.

How to Know If the Medicine Is Working

You will not see results right away on day one. It usually takes anywhere from several weeks to a few months for your involuntary movements to slow down noticeably.

Because your doctor needs time to find the exact dose that works for your unique body, you must practice patience during your treatment journey.

If you feel like your symptoms are not getting any better, or if they seem to be getting worse, talk openly with your doctor right away. They may adjust your dose or explore other helpful treatment options.

Possible Side Effects and How to Handle Them

Just like any medicine, Austedo can cause side effects in some people, though not everyone experiences them. The table below lists common side effects and simple ways to manage them safely.

Other Medicines That Do Not Mix Well with Austedo

This is a very important safety section. Certain medicines do not mix well with Austedo and must be avoided or used with extreme caution.

Medicines You Must Never Take Together

• MAOIs (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors): These are specific medicines used for depression or Parkinson's disease.
• Reserpine: An older medicine once used for high blood pressure.
• Tetrabenazine and Valbenazine: These are other movement disorder medicines similar to Austedo. Taking them together can sharply increase your risk of severe side effects.

Medicines That Require Extra Caution

• CYP2D6 inhibitors: These include common medicines like bupropion and fluoxetine for depression, or quinidine for heart rhythms. Taking them with Austedo can cause the medicine levels in your blood to rise too high. Your doctor may need to lower your Austedo dose if you take these.
• Antipsychotics: Taking these mental health medicines with Austedo can raise your risk of muscle stiffness, parkinsonism symptoms, or severe restlessness.
• Other sleepy medicines and alcohol: Austedo can already make you feel sleepy. Mixing it with allergy pills like Benadryl or other sedatives will make your drowsiness much worse. Do not drink alcohol while taking Austedo.