When you start NORTHERA, your doctor will want to find the dose that works best for you. Your doctor will likely start you on NORTHERA at a low dose. Based on how you feel, he or she may increase the amount you take until you reach the dose that best manages your symptoms. This process is called titration.
When NORTHERA was studied in clinical trials, doses were increased every 1 to 2 days. Your doctor will determine if and when your dose should be increased.
Learn how your doctor will adjust your dose of NORTHERA to find what works best for you.
What Is Titration?
Text on the bottom of the screen throughout: Please listen to the Important Safety Information, including Boxed Warning for supine hypertension, in this video.
Text: Dr. Salima Brillman, movement disorder specialist
Text on the bottom of the screen: NORTHERA® (droxidopa) is a prescription medication used to reduce dizziness, lightheadedness, or “the feeling that you are about to black out” in adults who have symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (nOH) and who have Parkinson’s disease, multiple system atrophy, pure autonomic failure, dopamine beta-hydroxylase deficiency, or non-diabetic autonomic neuropathy.
Dr. Brillman writes on a notepad
Dr. Brillman: When I prescribe NORTHERA droxidopa for symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension finding the right dose is very personal. We take it person-by-person, step-by-step.
Text: Dr. David Shprecher, movement disorder specialist
Text on the bottom of the screen: Do not take NORTHERA if you have a known allergy to NORTHERA or its ingredients.
Text on the bottom of the screen: Take your NORTHERA capsules whole. NORTHERA may be taken with or without food, but it should be taken the same way each time. NORTHERA is taken 3 times daily.
Dr. Shprecher talks to a patient
Dr. Shprecher: Doctors often use this term titration. Titration means a gradual increase in the dose of medication. When I prescribe NORTHERA, I explain to patients that they need to take this medication 3 times a day. And that we’re gradually going to increase the dose till we find a dose that helps with the symptoms, the dizziness and lightheadedness.
Dr. Brillman sits in a chair
Dr. Brillman: During the titration period, I have them call in and report their blood pressures and their symptoms.
Dr. Shprecher types on a computer
Text at the bottom of the screen: If high blood pressure cannot be managed by elevating the head of the bed, reduce or discontinue NORTHERA.
Dr. Shprecher: We’re mainly just looking at the blood pressure readings, once a day laying down and standing up, to make sure the blood pressure doesn’t get too high laying down and isn’t getting too low standing up. We’re also looking for improvement in the symptoms that are impacting their everyday life.
Dr. Shprecher sits in a chair
Text at the bottom of the screen: NORTHERA may cause high blood pressure when lying down, which could lead to strokes, heart attacks, and death. To reduce this risk of supine hypertension, take your late afternoon dose of NORTHERA at least 3 hours before going to bed.
Dr. Shprecher: We’ll have a plan to increase by a small amount, and we’ll agree upon increasing by that small amount until we get to the dose that best manages symptoms.
Use
NORTHERA (droxidopa) is a prescription medication used to reduce dizziness, lightheadedness, or the “feeling that you are about to black out” in adults who experience a significant drop in blood pressure when changing positions or standing (called symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (nOH)) and who have one of the following:
Effectiveness beyond 2 weeks of treatment has not been established, and your doctor will decide if you should continue taking NORTHERA.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
WARNING: SUPINE HYPERTENSION (this is high blood pressure while lying down)
When lying down, elevating the head and upper body lowers the risk of high blood pressure. Check your blood pressure in this position prior to starting and during NORTHERA treatment. If you experience high blood pressure, talk to your doctor about your NORTHERA treatment.
For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning for supine hypertension.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-10881-800-FDA-1088.
“When I first started NORTHERA, I was seeing my doctor every day or every couple of days to titrate my dose until we got it just right.”
—GAIL, LIVES WITH PARKINSON’S DISEASE AND SYMPTOMATIC nOH
As with any prescription medication, there are potential side effects and safety considerations you should be aware of before starting NORTHERA.
Use
NORTHERA (droxidopa) is a prescription medication used to reduce dizziness, lightheadedness, or the “feeling that you are about to black out” in adults who experience a significant drop in blood pressure when changing positions or standing (called symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (nOH)) and who have one of the following:
Effectiveness beyond 2 weeks of treatment has not been established, and your doctor will decide if you should continue taking NORTHERA.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
WARNING: SUPINE HYPERTENSION (this is high blood pressure while lying down)
When lying down, elevating the head and upper body lowers the risk of high blood pressure. Check your blood pressure in this position prior to starting and during NORTHERA treatment. If you experience high blood pressure, talk to your doctor about your NORTHERA treatment.
For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning for supine hypertension.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-10881-800-FDA-1088.
Please see Important Safety Information, including Boxed Warning for supine hypertension.
For more information, see the full Prescribing Information.
Use
NORTHERA (droxidopa) is a prescription medication used to reduce dizziness, lightheadedness, or the “feeling that you are about to black out” in adults who experience a significant drop in blood pressure when changing positions or standing (called symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (nOH)) and who have one of the following:
Effectiveness beyond 2 weeks of treatment has not been established, and your doctor will decide if you should continue taking NORTHERA.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
WARNING: SUPINE HYPERTENSION (this is high blood pressure while lying down)
When lying down, elevating the head and upper body lowers the risk of high blood pressure. Check your blood pressure in this position prior to starting and during NORTHERA treatment. If you experience high blood pressure, talk to your doctor about your NORTHERA treatment.
For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning for supine hypertension.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-10881-800-FDA-1088.