Movement disorder meds

Movement disorder medications and pharmacogenetics

Also known as: Tardive dyskinesia treatments, Huntington's disease medications

3 medications 3 brand products CYP2D6

Why pharmacogenetics matter for movement disorder medications

Medications for involuntary movement disorders (tardive dyskinesia, Huntington's disease chorea) work by depleting dopamine at nerve terminals. Several are metabolized by CYP2D6, which means poor metabolizers are at higher risk of dose-related side effects including sedation, depression, and QT prolongation. The FDA labels for valbenazine and deutetrabenazine include specific dose adjustments for CYP2D6 poor metabolizers.

These drugs are specialty prescriptions typically written by neurologists or movement disorder specialists, who are more likely than general practitioners to order pharmacogenetic testing proactively for dose optimization.

Key gene in this class

CYP2D6

Cytochrome P450 2D6

CYP2D6 is the most clinically important pharmacogene. It metabolizes around a quarter of all prescription drugs, including many antidepressants, opioids, and stimulants. The gene is unusually variable: roughly 7 percent …

Medications in this class with pharmacogenetic guidelines

Each link goes to the drug's full pharmacogenetics page with CPIC and FDA phenotype recommendations.

Deutetrabenazine CYP2D6 Tetrabenazine CYP2D6 Valbenazine CYP2D6

Brand products in the Movement disorder meds class

Combined products and brand names for the medications above. Each links to a pharmacogenetic breakdown.

Which movement disorder meds is right for your genetics?

This page covers the pharmacogenetics of movement disorder medications in general. A Gene2Rx report tells you how your personal genotype interacts with every drug on this page.

Get your report Look up a medication

Informational only, not medical advice. Pharmacogenetic guidelines describe population-level patterns that inform prescribing decisions. Never start, stop, or change a medication without talking to your prescribing clinician.