valbenazine
Ingrezza (valbenazine) is a vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitor from Neurocrine Biosciences. It is used in adults to treat tardive dyskinesia and the chorea associated with Huntington's disease, conditions marked by involuntary movements.
This page is based on the official US label for INGREZZA, cross-checked with DailyMed and MedlinePlus; the mechanism is explained in plain language, and analogies are used only where they stay accurate.
How it works
Explains what the medicine does in the body, not dosing, side effects, or safety.
An analogy
Nerve cells keep dopamine in tiny storage bubbles and release them to send movement signals. In tardive dyskinesia and Huntington's chorea too much dopamine gets released at once. Valbenazine shrinks the size of each dopamine load, so movement signals come out smaller and steadier.
In simple terms
Valbenazine is a capsule taken once daily. It blocks VMAT2, a protein that loads dopamine into storage bubbles inside nerve cells. With less dopamine released per signal, the involuntary movements of tardive dyskinesia and Huntington's disease chorea become milder.
In depth
Valbenazine is a selective inhibitor of vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2), the transporter that packages dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine into presynaptic vesicles. Its active metabolite reversibly inhibits VMAT2, reducing monoamine uptake into vesicles and depleting presynaptic dopamine stores. The resulting decrease in dopaminergic signalling in the basal ganglia reduces the hyperkinetic movements of tardive dyskinesia and Huntington's disease chorea.
See it in motion
A schematic animation of the mechanism — simplified for clarity, not drawn to scale.
How VMAT2 inhibitors make each dopamine signal smaller
- Nerve cells keep dopamine in tiny storage bubbles and release them to send movement signals.
- It blocks VMAT2, a protein that loads dopamine into storage bubbles inside nerve cells.
- Valbenazine shrinks the size of each dopamine load, so movement signals come out smaller and steadier.
- With less dopamine released per signal, the involuntary movements of tardive dyskinesia and Huntington's disease chorea become milder.
Target: Vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2)
A transporter that packages dopamine and related chemicals into nerve-cell storage vesicles, controlling how much is released with each signal.
Approved uses
Approved uses differ by country and change over time. Always follow your local prescribing information.
Approved uses in United States
FDA- Treatment of adults with tardive dyskinesia
- Treatment of adults with chorea associated with Huntington's disease
Official sources
The statements on this page trace back to these records.
- openFDA drug label record for valbenazine (Ingrezza)
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, openFDA
- DailyMed: INGREZZA (valbenazine) official US label
U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed
- MedlinePlus: valbenazine
MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
This page explains how the medicine works — it isn’t the patient leaflet. For anything that applies to you, read the leaflet that came with your medicine or ask your pharmacist.
MedUnfold provides educational content and is not medical advice. Always follow your local prescribing information and healthcare professional.