Loading...
Orthostatic hypotension (OH) can be debilitating and can lead to presyncope or syncope. The pharmacologic standard of care for OH is midodrine, an α1-adrenergic agonist. In a previous proof-of-concept study, investigators showed that atomoxetine, a blocker of the norepinephrine transporter, increased blood pressure in patients with OH. In a new, single-center study using a randomized, single-blind, crossover design, patients were given atomoxetine, midodrine, or placebo on separate days.
The participants, 69 patients with autonomic failure (pure autonomic failure, 26; Parkinson disease, 12; multiple systems atrophy, 21; undetermined, 10) and neurogenic OH (mean age, 65), had profound decreases in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic b…