Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) summary
The
full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about using this medicine,
speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
1. Why am I taking Tetrabenazine?
Tetrabenazine tablets contains the active ingredient tetrabenazine. Tetrabenazine
is used to treat diseases which cause jerky, irregular, uncontrollable movements such
as Huntington's chorea, senile chorea and hemiballismus.
2. What should I know before I take Tetrabenazine?
Do not take if you have ever had an allergic reaction to Tetrabenazine or any of the
ingredients listed at the end of the CMI.
Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines,
or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Some medicines may interfere with Tetrabenazine and affect how it works.
4. How do I take Tetrabenazine?
Adults: The usual starting dose is one tablet twice a day. This may be increased to
up to 8 tablets a day.
Children: The usual starting dose is 1/2 tablet twice a day with increases of 1/2
tablet per day every 3 to 4 days until the desired effect is achieved.
5. What should I know while taking Tetrabenazine?
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Things you should do
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Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are taking Tetrabenazine.
If you are having surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you are taking Tetrabenazine.
Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while using this medicine.
Get up slowly when standing up or getting out of bed as Tetrabenazine may cause light-headedness,
dizziness, or faintness.
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Things you should not do
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Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly or change the dose without checking with
your doctor.
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Driving or using machines
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Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Tetrabenazine affects
you.
Tetrabenazine may cause drowsiness in some people.
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Drinking alcohol
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Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Tetrabenazine.
Alcohol can increase some side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty
concentrating.
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Looking after your medicine
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Store tablets below 30°C in a cool dry place.
Keep out of reach of children.
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6. Are there any side effects?
Common side effects include drowsiness, Parkinsonism symptoms such as tremor, balancing
problems and excessive salivation, depression, agitation, anxiety, insomnia, confusion,
difficulty swallowing or choking attacks. Serious side effects include stiffness or
tightness in the arms or legs, irrational thoughts or ideas, or suicidal thoughts
or behaviour.
Active ingredient:
Tetrabenazine
Full Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about using Tetrabenazine. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information
or if you have any concerns or questions about using Tetrabenazine.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
1. Why am I taking Tetrabenazine?
Tetrabenazine tablets contain the active ingredient tetrabenazine. Tetrabenazine works in the central nervous system to prevent the absorption of certain
chemicals, such as dopamine and serotonin, which helps to control jerky and irregular
movement.
Tetrabenazine is used to treat diseases which cause jerky, irregular or uncontrollable
movements such as Huntington's chorea, senile chorea and hemiballismus.
2. What should I know before I take Tetrabenazine?
Warnings
Do not take Tetrabenazine if:
you are allergic to tetrabenazine, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of
this leaflet. Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction include:
shortness of breath
wheezing or difficulty breathing
swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or other parts of the body
rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.
you are taking reserpine or levodopa
you are taking a medicine known as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) or you have
taken this medicine in the past 2 weeks
you have Parkinson's disease. Tetrabenazine can make pre-existing Parkinsonism worse.
you suffer from depression. Tetrabenazine may cause depression, worsen pre-existing
depression, or result in suicidal ideation and behaviour.
you have a galactose intolerance, Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption.
Tetrabenazine tablets contain lactose.
Check with your doctor if you:
Have any other medical conditions including:
abnormal heart rate or rhythm
kidney or liver disease
high or low blood pressure
lactose intolerance or malabsorption
suicidal thoughts or behaviour
take any medicines for any other condition.
Tell your doctor if you know your CYP2D6 metaboliser status. Your CYP2D6 metaboliser
status may affect the Tetrabenazine dose you need and the dose of other medicines
you may be taking.
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important
you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information
under Section
6. Are there any side effects?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Do not take Tetrabenazine if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Tetrabenazine
crosses the placenta and may harm your unborn baby.
Do not take Tetrabenazine tablets if you are breast-feeding. Tetrabenazine passes
into breast milk.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any
medicines, vitamins, or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your
pharmacy, supermarket, or health food shop.
Some medicines may interfere with Tetrabenazine and affect how it works. These include:
medicines that affect the brain and nervous system including medicines to treat psychiatric
conditions, opioid painkillers and sleeping pills
medicines for high blood pressure, including beta blockers
medicines used to treat psychosis such as haloperidol, and chlorpromazine
metoclopramide used control nausea and vomiting
medicines for abnormal heart rhythms
antibiotics.
Medicines that may
increase
the effect of Tetrabenazine include:
medicines to treat depression called tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase
inhibitors (MAOIs) or CYP2D6 inhibitors, such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline,
quinidine, duloxetine, terbinafine, and amiodarone.
Tetrabenazine may
reduce
the effect of the following medicines:
reserpine or levodopa
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins
or supplements you are taking and if these affect Tetrabenazine.
4. How do I take Tetrabenazine?
How much to take
Your doctor will decide the best dose for you. Follow your doctor's instructions.
The usual adult dose is one tablet twice a day. The dose may be increased up to 8
tablets a day.
The usual children's dose is 1/2 tablet twice a day with increases of 1/2 tablet per
day every 3 to 4 days until the desired effect is achieved
Swallow tablets with a glass of water.
When to take Tetrabenazine
Take your medicine about the same time each day, once in the morning and once in the
evening.
If you forget to take Tetrabenazine
Tetrabenazine should be taken regularly at the same time each day.
If you miss a dose and it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed
and take your next dose when you are meant to.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.
This may increase your risk of having an unwanted side effect.
If you take too much Tetrabenazine
If you think that you have taken too much Tetrabenazine, you may need urgent medical
attention.
You should immediately:
phone the Poisons Information Centre
(by calling
13 11 26), or
contact your doctor, or
go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
5. What should I know while taking Tetrabenazine?
Things you should do
If you feel light-headed, dizzy or faint when getting out of bed or standing up, get
up slowly.
Standing up slowly, especially when you get out of bed or from chairs, will help your
body get used to the change in position and blood pressure. If this problem continues
or gets worse, talk to your doctor.
Call your doctor straight away if you:
experience symptoms of Parkinsonism, which include unsteadiness, tremors, and excessive
salivation. Your doctor may need to adjust your dose of Tetrabenazine.
become pregnant while taking Tetrabenazine.
Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are taking Tetrabenazine.
If you are having surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you are taking Tetrabenazine.
It may affect other medicines used during surgery.
Things you should not do
Do not stop taking Tetrabenazine or change the dose without checking with your doctor.
Do not use Tetrabenazine tablets to treat any condition other than that directed by
your doctor.
Do not give Tetrabenazine to anyone else even if they have the same condition as you.
It may not be safe for another person to take Tetrabenazine.
Driving or using machines
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Tetrabenazine
affects you.
Tetrabenazine may cause drowsiness in some people.
Drinking alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.
Drinking alcohol while taking Tetrabenazine is not recommended. Alcohol can increase
some side effects of Tetrabenazine such as dizziness, drowsiness and difficulty concentrating.
Looking after your medicine
Follow the instructions on the bottle label on how to take care of your medicine.
Store below 30 0C in the bottle until it is time to take it. Store Tetrabenazine in a cool dry place
away from moisture, heat or sunlight; for example, do not store it:
in the bathroom or near a sink, or
in the car or on windowsills.
Keep it where young children cannot reach it.
Getting rid of any unwanted medicine
If you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy
for safe disposal.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date.
6. Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of
them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you
have any further questions about side effects.
Less serious side effects
Serious side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you
feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.
Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can
report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at
www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems . By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of
this medicine.
Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop
taking any of your medicines.
7. Product details
This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.
What Tetrabenazine contains
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Active ingredient
(main ingredient)
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Tetrabenazine
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Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
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Starch
Talc
Lactose
Magnesium stearate
Iron oxide yellow
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Potential allergens
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Lactose
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Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
What Tetrabenazine looks like
Tetrabenazine tablets are yellowish coloured and contain 25 mg tetrabenazine as the
active ingredient. They are scored and marked with "CL" over "25". They are supplied
in bottles containing 112 tablets.
Registration number AUST R 13695
Who distributes Tetrabenazine
iNova Pharmaceuticals (Australia) Pty Limited
ABN: 13 617 871 539
Level 10, 12 Help Street
Chatswood NSW 2067
Tel: 1800 630 056
This leaflet was prepared in November 2022