Droxidopa (Dops OD) 100 mg, 100 tablets: profile, composition and research
Reference page for Droxidopa (Dops OD) 100 mg, 100 tablets. Active substance: Дроксидопа / Droxidopa.
- What it is: droxidopa, a medicine for people whose blood pressure falls sharply on standing.
- Presentation: 100 mg tablets, 100 tablets per pack.
- Status: prescription-only medicine.
- Research: controlled studies in neurogenic orthostatic hypotension, links below.
- Where to buy: APV Pharmacy (price and availability there).
Key facts
| Active substance | Droxidopa |
|---|---|
| Form | Tablets |
| Strength | 100 mg per tablet |
| Pack size | 100 tablets |
| Category | Prescription medicine |
| Article (SKU) |
What droxidopa is
Droxidopa is a synthetic amino-acid derivative that the body uses as a building block for noradrenaline, one of the main signalling molecules of the sympathetic nervous system. It is supplied as 100 mg tablets, with 100 tablets in a pack.
Neurogenic orthostatic hypotension is a condition in which blood pressure falls sharply when a person stands up. The nervous system fails to narrow the vessels in time, and the person feels weak, sees the room darken, hears ringing in the ears and may faint.
Droxidopa is one of the medicines used for this particular form of hypotension, where the cause lies in damaged nerve pathways rather than in dehydration or blood loss. It is a prescription medicine, and the decision to use it belongs to a physician after assessment.
How droxidopa works
An inactive precursor
Droxidopa itself has no effect on blood vessels. It enters the endings of sympathetic nerves and is converted there by enzymes into noradrenaline, the substance through which the nervous system tells vessels to narrow.
Replacing a missing messenger
In neurogenic hypotension the neurons that produce noradrenaline are damaged or lost. With too little of the messenger, the vessels stay wide. Droxidopa supplies the precursor from which noradrenaline is assembled inside the nerve ending.
Vessels narrow
The noradrenaline that is released acts on the smooth muscle of the vessel wall: the lumen narrows, peripheral resistance rises and blood pressure on standing becomes steadier. How strong the effect is depends on how many working nerve endings remain.
Why standing up is treated as a problem of its own
Normally, when the body rises, blood shifts downwards and baroreceptors trigger a fast reflex: vessels narrow, the pulse quickens and pressure is held steady. In neurogenic hypotension that reflex does not fire, because the conducting pathways themselves are damaged rather than the machinery of vascular tone.
The condition occurs in Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, pure autonomic failure, diabetic neuropathy and some rare disorders. Faints and falls cause injuries and noticeably restrict everyday life.
Treatment is therefore usually built in steps: non-drug measures first, medicines afterwards. The dose, how often it is taken and for how long are chosen by a physician, guided by blood-pressure readings and how the patient feels. A reference page does not make such decisions.
What the research shows
The key study of droxidopa is a randomised, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial published in Neurology in 2014. It assessed symptom severity in patients with neurogenic orthostatic hypotension while they received the medicine or a placebo.
A separate trial in Hypertension (2015) used a withdrawal design: participants who had responded were switched to placebo and watched for the return of symptoms. Another study (NOH306A, 2014) focused on patients with Parkinson's disease.
The findings point to a moderate improvement in symptoms rather than a complete solution. The studies were relatively short and long-term follow-up is limited, so the medicine remains one element of a broader approach rather than a stand-alone answer.
Published research
Primary sources, verified against PubMed:
- Droxidopa for neurogenic orthostatic hypotension: a randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial., PubMed 24944260 (Neurology, 2014).
- Randomized withdrawal study of patients with symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension responsive to droxidopa., PubMed 25350981 (Hypertension, 2015).
- Droxidopa in patients with neurogenic orthostatic hypotension associated with Parkinson's disease (NOH306A)., PubMed 24326693 (J Parkinsons Dis, 2014).
- Droxidopa for the treatment of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension in neurodegenerative diseases., PubMed 30730771 (Expert Opin Pharmacother, 2019).
Listed for reference. Publication of a study is not a claim about this particular product.
Precautions
- This is a prescription medicine. Choosing it, setting the dose and monitoring belong to the treating physician.
- Droxidopa raises blood pressure, so regular monitoring is needed, including when lying down.
- In heart disease and rhythm disorders the medicine is used with caution and under specialist supervision.
- Headache, dizziness, nausea and fatigue are possible. Unusual or marked reactions should be reported to a doctor.
- Stopping suddenly is not advisable; any withdrawal is planned by a physician.
- In pregnancy and breastfeeding the decision belongs to a physician, who should also know about every other medicine being taken.
Frequently asked
Is droxidopa a prescription medicine?
Yes. It is a prescription medicine and is not intended for self-medication.
Who is usually considered for it?
Patients with confirmed neurogenic orthostatic hypotension, including those with Parkinson's disease. A physician decides after assessment.
Why does this page not give a dosing schedule?
The dose and how long it is taken are set by a physician from blood-pressure readings and tolerability. A reference page does not prescribe treatment.
Where does the order ship from?
Shipping and customs handling are described on the APV Pharmacy delivery page.