[+]-α-HTBZ
valbenazine metabolite
What it isThe [+]-alpha-dihydrotetrabenazine metabolite common to tetrabenazine, deutetrabenazine and valbenazine.
Why this oneIt is the actual VMAT2 inhibitor; all three parent drugs are essentially delivery systems for it.
What limits itDeuteration and the valbenazine ester exist only to change how fast this molecule appears and disappears — the pharmacology at the target is identical.
FDA-approved for
- chorea/tardive dyskinesia (active metabolite of tetrabenazine/valbenazine)
NO BOXED WARNINGS
Principal riskLittle in its own right; see the parent drug
Classes and tags
Clinical profile
Mechanism of action: [+]-α-HTBZ ballicule
![[+]-α-HTBZ ballicule: receptor binding, kinetics and half-life diagram](/thumbs/plus_alpha_htbz.webp)