Experiences with

Droxidopa

Doctors switched from midodrine to droxidopa (northera) 3 weeks ago to see if can regulate. But his dose of stalevo every 4 hours brings BP down! Droxidopa brings it up but never stable! Now on 200 mg in am and 100mg 2 more times if needed. Any suggestions as to management? Still experimenting.

The genetic deficiencies of DBH can be treated with the drug Droxidopa (L-threo-dihydroxyphenylserine). Droxidopa has the ability to cross the blood brain barrier and be converted to norepinephrine by an alternate biochemical pathway that bypasses the DBH genetic block.

I have read that there is ONE medication on the market to treat orthostatic hypotension caused by PD called Northera (Droxidopa).

Yeah I know you can boost norepinephrine by taking droxidopa. But wouldn't that result in negative effects, kinda similar to the idea of 'artificially' boosting dopamine by taking l-dopa?

diagnoses and treatments include Thyroid cancer and complete Thyroidectomy, Ocular Melanoma treated with Plaque Radiation, no further issues with cancer so far; Orthostatic Hypotension from Pure Autonomic Failure, Pace Maker to stabilize heart rate and minimum blood pressure, taking Midodrine, and now Droxidopa

Individual motor symptoms such as stiffness, resting tremor, and alternate hand motion were also significantly improved with the use of droxidopa, suggesting that droxidopa is effective in improving rigidity, tremor and alternate motion of hand. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26342560