{"id":60795,"date":"2024-02-28T07:08:53","date_gmt":"2024-02-28T07:08:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medsname.com\/atrest\/"},"modified":"2026-05-01T10:49:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T10:49:16","slug":"atrest","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/medsbase.com\/el\/atrest\/","title":{"rendered":"Atrest"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

⚡ Quick Answer — What is Atrest?<\/h3>\n

Atrest<\/strong> \u03b5\u03af\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b1\u03c0\u03cc \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c3\u03c4\u03cc\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 tetrabenazine<\/strong> (12.5 mg) tablet \u2014 a VMAT2 (vesicular monoamine transporter 2) inhibitor<\/strong> specifically approved for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington disease<\/strong>. It works by depleting dopamine from nerve terminals, reducing the involuntary writhing and jerking movements that characterise Huntington chorea. Starting dose: 12.5 mg \u03bc\u03b9\u03b1 \u03c6\u03bf\u03c1\u03ac \u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03b7\u03bc\u03ad\u03c1\u03b1<\/strong>, increased weekly by 12.5 mg to a maximum of 37.5 mg\/dose (75–100 mg\/day)<\/strong>, always divided into 2–3 doses. Patients receiving >50 mg\/day require CYP2D6 genotyping<\/strong>. Common side effects: sedation, akathisia, depression, parkinsonism, insomnia. Black-box warning:<\/strong> increases risk of depression and suicidality in Huntington patients \u2014 monitor mood closely.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n\u0391\u03c5\u03c4\u03cc \u03c0\u03bf\u03c5 \u03bb\u03b1\u03bc\u03b2\u03ac\u03bd\u03b5\u03c4\u03b5 \u03bc\u03b5 \u03c4\u03b7\u03bd MedsBase:<\/strong> \u03a0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03b7\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03c3\u03ba\u03b5\u03c5\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03ae\u03c2 WHO-GMP \u00b7 \u0394\u03b9\u03b1\u03ba\u03c1\u03b9\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03ae \u03c3\u03c5\u03c3\u03ba\u03b5\u03c5\u03b1\u03c3\u03af\u03b1 \u00b7 \u03a0\u03b1\u03b3\u03ba\u03cc\u03c3\u03bc\u03b9\u03b1 \u03b1\u03c0\u03bf\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03bb\u03ae \u00b7 1,400+ \u03b5\u03c0\u03b1\u03bb\u03b7\u03b8\u03b5\u03c5\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03b5\u03c2 \u03ba\u03c1\u03b9\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03ad\u03c2 \u03c0\u03b5\u03bb\u03b1\u03c4\u03ce\u03bd<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

\ud83d\udce6 \u039a\u03ac\u03b8\u03b5 \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03b3\u03b3\u03b5\u03bb\u03af\u03b1 \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03cd\u03c0\u03c4\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b1\u03c0\u03cc \u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03a0\u03bf\u03bb\u03b9\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03ae \u0395\u03b3\u03b3\u03cd\u03b7\u03c3\u03b7\u03c2 \u0395\u03c0\u03b1\u03bd\u03b1\u03c0\u03bf\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03bb\u03ae\u03c2<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 \u03b5\u03ac\u03bd \u03c4\u03bf \u03b4\u03ad\u03bc\u03b1 \u03c3\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b5\u03bd \u03c6\u03c4\u03ac\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9 \u03b5\u03bd\u03c4\u03cc\u03c2 20 \u03b5\u03c1\u03b3\u03ac\u03c3\u03b9\u03bc\u03c9\u03bd \u03b7\u03bc\u03b5\u03c1\u03ce\u03bd, \u03c4\u03bf \u03b5\u03c0\u03b1\u03bd\u03b1\u03c0\u03bf\u03c3\u03c4\u03ad\u03bb\u03bb\u03bf\u03c5\u03bc\u03b5.<\/p>\n

\u0393\u03b9\u03b1\u03c4\u03af \u03bd\u03b1 \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03b3\u03b3\u03b5\u03af\u03bb\u03b5\u03c4\u03b5 \u03b1\u03c0\u03cc \u03c4\u03b7 MedsBase<\/h3>\n

\u03a4\u03b1 \u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u03cc\u03c3\u03b7\u03bc\u03b1 \u03c6\u03ac\u03c1\u03bc\u03b1\u03ba\u03ac \u03bc\u03b1\u03c2 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03ad\u03c1\u03c7\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b1\u03c0\u03cc \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03c3\u03ba\u03b5\u03c5\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03ad\u03c2 \u03c0\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03bf\u03cd\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b1\u03c0\u03cc \u03c4\u03b7\u03bd WHO-GMP \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b1\u03c0\u03bf\u03c3\u03c4\u03ad\u03bb\u03bb\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c0\u03b1\u03b3\u03ba\u03bf\u03c3\u03bc\u03af\u03c9\u03c2 \u03c3\u03b5 \u03b4\u03b9\u03b1\u03ba\u03c1\u03b9\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03ae, \u03b1\u03c0\u03bb\u03ae \u03c3\u03c5\u03c3\u03ba\u03b5\u03c5\u03b1\u03c3\u03af\u03b1 \u2014 \u03c7\u03c9\u03c1\u03af\u03c2 \u03cc\u03bd\u03bf\u03bc\u03b1 \u03c6\u03b1\u03c1\u03bc\u03ac\u03ba\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c3\u03c4\u03bf \u03b5\u03be\u03c9\u03c4\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b4\u03ad\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2. \u039f\u03b9 \u03c0\u03bb\u03b7\u03c1\u03c9\u03bc\u03ad\u03c2 \u03bc\u03b5 \u03ba\u03ac\u03c1\u03c4\u03b1 \u03b4\u03c1\u03bf\u03bc\u03bf\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03bf\u03cd\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03bc\u03ad\u03c3\u03c9 \u03c1\u03c5\u03b8\u03bc\u03b9\u03c3\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b5\u03c0\u03b5\u03be\u03b5\u03c1\u03b3\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03ae (\u03bf\u03b9 \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03b3\u03c1\u03b1\u03c6\u03ad\u03c2 \u03b5\u03ba\u03ba\u03b1\u03b8\u03ac\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03b7\u03c2 \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03bb\u03b1\u03bc\u03b2\u03ac\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5\u03bd \u03c1\u03c5\u03b8\u03bc\u03b9\u03c3\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03bf \u03b5\u03c0\u03b5\u03be\u03b5\u03c1\u03b3\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03ae \u03c0\u03bb\u03b7\u03c1\u03c9\u03bc\u03ce\u03bd \u03bc\u03b5 \u03ba\u03ac\u03c1\u03c4\u03b1 \u2014 \u03c0\u03bf\u03c4\u03ad \u201cMedsBase\u201d \u03ae \u03bf\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03bf\u03b4\u03ae\u03c0\u03bf\u03c4\u03b5 \u03cc\u03bd\u03bf\u03bc\u03b1 \u03c6\u03b1\u03c1\u03bc\u03ac\u03ba\u03bf\u03c5). \u0393\u03af\u03bd\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b4\u03b5\u03ba\u03c4\u03ad\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c0\u03bb\u03b7\u03c1\u03c9\u03bc\u03ad\u03c2 \u03bc\u03b5 \u03ba\u03c1\u03c5\u03c0\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd\u03bf\u03bc\u03af\u03c3\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03c1\u03b1\u03c0\u03b5\u03b6\u03b9\u03ba\u03ae \u03bc\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03c6\u03bf\u03c1\u03ac SEPA. \u039a\u03ac\u03b8\u03b5 \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03b3\u03b3\u03b5\u03bb\u03af\u03b1 \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03cd\u03c0\u03c4\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b1\u03c0\u03cc \u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03a0\u03bf\u03bb\u03b9\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03ae \u0395\u03c0\u03b1\u03bd\u03b1\u03c0\u03bf\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03bb\u03ae\u03c2 \u0395\u03be\u03b1\u03c3\u03c6\u03b1\u03bb\u03af\u03c3\u03b5\u03ce\u03c2 \u03bc\u03b1\u03c2.<\/p>\n

What Is Atrest?<\/h2>\n

Atrest is an oral tablet containing tetrabenazine 12.5 mg<\/strong>. Tetrabenazine is a vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitor<\/strong> — the first drug specifically approved for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington disease<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

By depleting presynaptic dopamine stores, tetrabenazine reduces the involuntary, dance-like movements (chorea) that characterise Huntington disease without the tardive dyskinesia risk of traditional dopamine receptor blockers. It was first used in Europe in the 1970s and gained FDA approval in 2008 as Xenazine<\/strong>. Atrest is manufactured by a WHO-GMP certified facility and is bioequivalent to the originator brand at the same strength.<\/p>\n

How Does Atrest (Tetrabenazine) Work?<\/h2>\n

Tetrabenazine irreversibly inhibits VMAT2<\/strong>, the protein responsible for packaging dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine into synaptic vesicles. By blocking VMAT2, the drug depletes presynaptic monoamine stores \u2014 predominantly dopamine in the basal ganglia. Excessive dopaminergic activity in the striatum is the primary driver of choreiform movements in Huntington disease, so reducing dopamine availability at the post-synaptic receptor directly suppresses chorea.<\/p>\n

The drug is extensively metabolised by CYP2D6 into two active metabolites (α-HTBZ and β-HTBZ) that account for most of the clinical effect. CYP2D6 poor metabolisers<\/strong> have significantly higher plasma levels, which is why genotyping is required before exceeding 50 mg\/day.<\/p>\n

Dosing and Administration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u0395\u03b2\u03b4\u03bf\u03bc\u03ac\u03b4\u03b1<\/th>\nDaily Dose<\/th>\nSchedule<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\u0395\u03b2\u03b4\u03bf\u03bc\u03ac\u03b4\u03b1 1<\/td>\n12.5 mg<\/td>\nOnce daily (morning)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0395\u03b2\u03b4\u03bf\u03bc\u03ac\u03b4\u03b1 2<\/td>\n25 mg<\/td>\n12.5 mg twice daily<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Week 3+<\/td>\n37.5–50 mg<\/td>\nDivided into 2–3 doses<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u039c\u03ad\u03b3\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf<\/td>\n75–100 mg\/day*<\/td>\n*CYP2D6 genotyping required >50 mg\/day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u039b\u03ae\u03c8\u03b7 \u03bc\u03b5 \u03ae \u03c7\u03c9\u03c1\u03af\u03c2 \u03c4\u03c1\u03cc\u03c6\u03b9\u03bc\u03b1. No single dose should exceed 37.5 mg.<\/strong> If treatment is interrupted for >5 days, re-titrate from 12.5 mg.<\/p>\n

\u03a0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b5\u03bd\u03ad\u03c1\u03b3\u03b5\u03b9\u03b5\u03c2<\/h2>\n
⚠ Black-box warning \u2014 Depression & suicidality:<\/strong> Tetrabenazine increases the risk of depression and suicidal thoughts\/behaviour in patients with Huntington disease. Do not use in patients who are actively suicidal or have untreated\/inadequately treated depression. Patients and caregivers should be alerted to monitor for emerging or worsening depression, suicidality, or unusual changes in behaviour.<\/div>\n

Common (\u226510%):<\/strong> sedation\/somnolence, fatigue, insomnia, depression, akathisia (restlessness), anxiety, nausea.<\/p>\n

Serious:<\/strong> parkinsonism (dose-related), neuroleptic malignant syndrome (rare), QTc prolongation (avoid in congenital long-QT syndrome), dysphagia (increased aspiration risk in Huntington patients).<\/p>\n

\u03a0\u03c1\u03bf\u03b5\u03b9\u03b4\u03bf\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03ae\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c6\u03c5\u03bb\u03ac\u03be\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2<\/h2>\n