Selective VMAT Inhibitors for Tourette Syndrome

The search for improved treatment options for patients with Tourette Syndrome (TS) has led to exploration of additional pharmacologic means of modulating dopaminergic pathways in the brain. Specifically, the goal has been to find agents which may avoid unwanted side effects (e.g., sedation, metabolic syndrome) associated with dopamine receptor blocking medications. One such target may be the Vesicular Monoamine Transporter 2 (VMAT2), a presynaptic neuron protein important for dopamine signaling. In this review, emerging data are presented from clinical trials using investigational medications active at VMAT2 and the implications for TS are discussed.