From the Research
Weaning off Ingrezza (valbenazine) should be done gradually under medical supervision, with a recommended tapering schedule of reducing the dose by 40 mg increments every 1-2 weeks, to minimize potential withdrawal symptoms or rebound effects. When discontinuing Ingrezza, it's essential to consider the medication's mechanism of action as a VMAT2 inhibitor, which affects dopamine regulation in the brain 1. The most recent and highest quality study on valbenazine, published in 2019, highlights the importance of gradual discontinuation to avoid worsening of tardive dyskinesia symptoms 2.
Some key points to consider when tapering off Ingrezza include:
- Reducing the dose by 40 mg increments every 1-2 weeks, for example, decreasing from 80 mg daily to 40 mg daily for 1-2 weeks before stopping completely 1
- Monitoring for any changes in movement symptoms and reporting these to the healthcare provider 2
- Individual factors such as duration of treatment, dose, and symptom severity will influence the specific tapering schedule, so it's crucial to follow the doctor's personalized recommendations 3
- Although the provided evidence does not directly address the tapering schedule for Ingrezza, the general principle of gradual tapering to minimize withdrawal symptoms is supported by studies on other medications, such as SSRIs 4
It's essential to note that abrupt discontinuation of Ingrezza may lead to worsening of tardive dyskinesia symptoms, and the need for gradual discontinuation is based on the medication's mechanism of action as a VMAT2 inhibitor, which affects dopamine regulation in the brain 1, 2.