AUTHOR=Aziz Salma , Pellot Erin , Bahroo Laxman , Wajpe Abhishek , Taylor Martin T. 

TITLE=Efficacy and safety of valbenazine in the treatment of cervical dystonia: a pilot study

JOURNAL=Dystonia

VOLUME=Volume 4 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/journals/dystonia/articles/10.3389/dyst.2025.13923

DOI=10.3389/dyst.2025.13923

ISSN=2813-2106

ABSTRACT=Background: Vesicular monoamine transporter-2 inhibitors have provided on-label success in the treatment of tardive dyskinesia (TD) and Huntington's disease chorea (HDC). A similar pathophysiological pathway for cervical dystonia suggests valbenazine (VBZ) could be beneficial in this condition.Objective: To determine the efficacy of VBZ in reducing symptoms of pain and posturing and improving quality of life in subjects with cervical dystonia.: This was an open-label, prospective study of subjects with a clinical diagnosis of cervical dystonia currently being treated with botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) for >6 months. Valbenazine was titrated to 80 mg per day with no change in BoNT dosage or muscle location. Evaluations were performed four weeks prior to the subject's scheduled BoNT treatment date BoNTmax/-VBZ (time 1) compared to four weeks prior to the subject's next BoNT treatment date BoNTmax/+VBZ (time 4). TheBoNT injection treatment date BoNTmin/VBZ dispensing (time 2) and the next BoNT injection treatment date BoNTmin/+VBZ (time 5) were compared. Efficacy was assessed using the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTR), Neck Pain Disability Index (NPDI). visual analog scale (VAS, 0-10) for pain/pulling/jerking, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGIC) and Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) Scales.Results: Fourteen subjects were enrolled and followed for a total of 16 weeks. TWSTRS Total Score was significantly improved at time 4 compared to time 1 (p=0.02), as well as VAS 0-10 scores for 24 Hour (p=0.001), Past Week Pull (p=0.0001), and Past Week Jerk (p=0.04). TWSTRS Total Score was significantly improved at time 5 compared to time 2 (p=0.02) as well as 24 Hour Pull (p=0.01), 24 Hour Jerk (p=0.04), Past Week Pull (p=0.002), and Past Week Jerk (p=0.02).Subjective improvement was reported at times 3, 4 and 5 on CGIC and PGIC Scales. No significant improvements were seen in the PSQI and NPDI. The medication was tolerated well with fatigue as the most common adverse effect.This exploratory study demonstrates a potential benefit in the addition of VBZ for the treatment of cervical dystonia associated with severe pain and posturing.