According to statistics, 30,000 people are suffering from Huntington disease while 200,000 people are at risk of developing this disease. Huntington is a rare neurologic disease. This inherited disorder leads to the impairing of mental abilities and, ultimately, death.

Hyperkinetic movement disorder or chorea is one of the major symptoms of this disease. Chorea is basically uncontrolled movements due to this disease. Chorea adversely affects the social life of the people.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday gave green signal to tetrabenazine, marketed by Prestwick Pharmaceuticals under the Xenazine brand name. This medicine is used to treat chorea in patients suffering from Huntington disease. This medicine has already been approved by governments of Canada, Europe and Australia.

The approved drug is able to tone down the patients' overactive neurological system. This drug has a protein known as the Vesicular Monoamine Transporter 2 or VMAT2. This protein acts transports dopamine and other neurotransmitters from cellular cytosol into synaptic vesicles.

Authorites have also warned about the side effects of this drug. Xenazine has serious side effects like suicidal thoughts and depression. Minor side effects are insomnia, drowsiness, restlessness and nausea. FDA has issued warning against using this drug on patients with suicidal instincts or prone to depression.

Various medical associations have praised the present decision of FDA. Medical experts believe that this medicine will help patients suffering from Huntington to control unwanted movements. This medicine will control chorea and may help people to live a normal life.