Understanding Huntington's Disease

Medications To Treat Symptoms

There aren't any treatments that can change the course of Huntington's disease, but there are medications that can help manage symptoms. Medication regimens tend to change as the disease progresses. For movement disorders, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved tetrabenazine to suppress the jerking movements that occur. However, there is a risk of triggering or worsening psychiatric issues. Antipsychotic drugs like chlorpromazine and haloperidol can sometimes suppress movements as a side effect, but they may make involuntary contractions worse.

Other medications that might suppress chorea are levetiracetam, clonazepam, and amantadine. In high doses, amantadine might worsen the cognitive issues, levetiracetam can cause nausea and mood swings, and clonazepam might cause drowsiness or potential dependence. Common medications for psychiatric issues include antidepressants for depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, antipsychotics for psychosis and mood disorders, and mood-stabilizing drugs to treat bipolar disorder.