Accelerated FDA Approval for Droxidopa to Treat Orthostatic Hypotension

Short-term studies suggest this treatment may be effective for a problem that can affect patients with Parkinson disease, multiple system atrophy, or pure autonomic failure.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently granted approval for the use of droxidopa to treat neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH). NOH, also referred to simply as orthostatic hypotension, is a clinically significant drop in blood pressure when standing that usually results in the clinical symptom of dizziness.

The largest populations that may benefit from this drug are patients with Parkinson disease (PD), multiple system atrophy, or pure autonomic failure. Many of these patients visit the emergency department or clinic because of dizziness and passing out. Orthostatic hypotension affects an estimated 15% to 50% of all patients with PD (Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2011; 17:625). In most cases, the obligatory cardiac evaluation reveals…

Author

Michael S. Okun, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardParkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America

Speaker’s BureauMedscape/WebMD CME, Movement Disorders Society CME, American Academy of Neurology CME

RoyaltiesBooks4Patients; Demos; Cambridge; Taylor and Francis; Robert Rose; Public Affairs

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health; Parkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America; University of Florida Foundation

Editorial BoardsTremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements; JAMA Neurology

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesParkinson’s Foundation (Medical Advisor)