Valbenazine is used to treat adults with tardive dyskinesia. Learn how to use the medication, its common side effects, special precautions to watch out for, and more.

What is this medication for?

Valbenazine is used to treat adults with tardive dyskinesia.

Tardive dyskinesia is a movement disorder characterised by the following symptoms:

• Uncontrollable and repeated movements such as lip smacking, mouth chewing, sticking out or twisting of the tongue and “piano playing” finger movements
• Tapping foot movements
• Rapid blinking of the eyes
• Uncontrolled jerking of different parts of the body 

These symptoms may affect an individual’s ability to function and interact in social settings.

Valbenazine may be used for other conditions. Check with your healthcare professional if you are unsure why you are given this medication.

How should I take or use this medication?

• Take your medication according to the instructions stated on the medication label.
• Valbenazine should be taken at the same time each day.
• Do not stop taking or adjust the dose of this medication without checking with your doctor.
• This medication can be taken with or without food.
• It may take 2 – 8 weeks to notice the full benefits of Valbenazine, although some symptoms may improve within the first week of starting Valbenazine. Therefore, it is important to continue taking this medication as directed, even if you do not notice immediate improvement to your symptoms.
• Do check with your doctor on how long you will have to be on this medication.

What should I do if I forget to take or use this medication?

• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if more than half of the time to the next dose has passed, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at your usual timing.
• For example, for a medication to be taken once daily at 8am, and you missed your dose at 8am, take it as soon as you can remember before 8pm. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.

What precautions should I take when taking or using this medication?

Inform your healthcare professional if: 

• You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication
• You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. If you are pregnant and/or breastfeeding, your doctor would have discussed the potential benefits and side-effects with you and should you have further questions or concerns, do consult your doctor.
• You are taking any other medications (including those that can be bought without a prescription), supplements,  traditional medications and herbal remedies. Some of them may affect how this medication works or cause serious drug interactions.
• You are taking, or have stopped taking in the last 14 days, a class of medication called Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) (e.g Moclobemide, Selegiline and Rasagiline)
• You have or have ever had: 
  • Other drug allergies
  • Heart rhythm abnormalities
  • Liver disease
  • Huntington's disease with depression, nervousness, suicidal thoughts or actions
  • Parkinson’s disease 

In some rare cases, Valbenazine may cause unusual changes to your mood, behaviour, thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life. Please inform your doctor as soon as possible, or for your family or caregiver to inform your doctor if you are unable to seek treatment on your own. 

What are some common side effects of this medication?

• Drowsiness or feeling tired
  • Avoid driving or taking part in activities that require concentration
  • Discuss with your doctor if you can take your medication at a different time of the day
• Dry mouth
  • Chew sugar-free gum, suck on sugar-free hard candies or ice chips, sip water regularly
• Constipation
  • Drink more water (if not on fluid-restricted diet), eat more high-fiber foods, and exercise regularly
  • Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you need a medication to help with your constipation
• Headache

Most of the side effects listed here will improve with time. Speak with your doctor if they continue, get worse or are affecting your daily life. 

What are some rare but serious side-effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately?

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

• Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
• Difficulty in breathing
• Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

Rarely this medication may cause:

• Fast or irregular heartbeat, fainting episodes (signs and symptoms of an abnormal heart beating rhythm (prolonged QTc interval))
• Blurred vision
• Muscle movement side effects (extrapyramidal side effects) – do speak to your doctor for further management. Examples include:
  • Uncontrollable shaking of limbs (tremors)
  • Slowness of movement, rigidity, problems with balance and increased risk of falls (parkinsonism) 
  • Restlessness or need to keep moving constantly (akathisia)
• Confusion, high fever, severe muscle stiffness, irregular blood pressure (signs and symptoms of neuroleptic malignant syndrome)

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

What food or medication should I avoid when I take or use this medication?

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Valbenazine as it can cause excessive sleepiness.

How should I store this medication?

Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.

How do I throw away this medication safely?

Pack this medication into a trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin. 

Disclaimer

Please take note that the above is not a complete list of all possible side effects. If you have any concerns about your medication or if you have other side effects that you think are caused by this medication, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.

This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.

Last updated on Feb 2025