Tetrabenazine and movement disorders

Based on blind review of videotape recordings, we analyzed the ability of tetrabenazine to suppress abnormal movements. The recordings were done before treatment, after 3 weeks on a stable dose (up to 200 mg daily) of tetrabenazine, and then after 3 weeks on placebo. Among the patients who completed the trial, improvement occurred in 6 of 8 with Huntington disease, 6 of 10 with tardive dyskinesia, and 3 of 8 with dystonic disorders. The drug was usually tolerated well.