Droxidopa

Generic name: Droxidopa
Brand names: Northera
Dosage form: oral capsule (100 mg; 200 mg; 300 mg)
Drug class: Vasopressors

Usage of Droxidopa

Droxidopa works by constricting (narrowing) the blood vessels and increasing blood pressure.

Droxidopa is used to treat low blood pressure that causes severe dizziness or a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out.

droxidopa is for use in people with conditions of the nervous system that can cause low blood pressure (such as Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, autonomic failure, and others).

Droxidopa may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Droxidopa side effects

Stop taking droxidopa and get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; wheezing, chest tightness, difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Droxidopa may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

severe dizziness or light-headed feeling;

confusion, fever;

pain or burning when you urinate;

dangerously high blood pressure--severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure; or

severe nervous system reaction--very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, feeling like you might pass out.

Common side effects of droxidopa may include:

headache, dizziness;

nausea; or

increased blood pressure.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Droxidopa

You should not use droxidopa if you are allergic to it.

To make sure droxidopa is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

heart disease;

history of heart attack or stroke;

high blood pressure;

kidney disease;

asthma, or a history of severe allergic reaction to aspirin, especially aspirin triad syndrome; or

if you are allergic to yellow food dye.

It is not known whether droxidopa will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

It is not known whether droxidopa passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

Droxidopa is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Relate drugs

How to use Droxidopa

Usual Adult Dose for Hypotension:

Initial dose: 100 mg orally 3 times daily upon arising in the morning, at midday, and in the late afternoon at least 3 hours prior to bedtime (to reduce the potential for supine hypertension during sleep)Titration: Titrate to symptomatic response, in increments of 100 mg 3 times daily every 24 to 48 hours.Maximum dose: 600 mg orally 3 times daily (i.e., a maximum total daily dose of 1800 mg)Duration of therapy: Effectiveness beyond 2 weeks of treatment has not been established.Comments:-Supine blood pressure should be monitored prior to initiating and after increasing the dose of droxidopa.-Droxidopa must be administered consistently, either with food or without food.-Capsules should be swallowed whole, not chewed or crushed. General Use: For the treatment of orthostatic dizziness, lightheadedness, or the "feeling that you are about to black out" in adult patients with symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH) caused by primary autonomic failure (Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, and pure autonomic failure), dopamine beta-hydroxylase deficiency, and nondiabetic autonomic neuropathy.

Warnings

Droxidopa can increase your blood pressure even while you are lying down. You may need to keep your head elevated during sleep to help prevent high blood pressure. Follow your doctor's instructions about how to position your body while you are lying down or sleeping.

Your blood pressure will need to be checked before and during treatment with droxidopa, or whenever your dose is changed. Check your blood pressure while you are lying down, and check it again with your head elevated.

What other drugs will affect Droxidopa

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:

linezolid.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with droxidopa, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

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