Complete adverse effect profile including incidence rates and management
Important Safety Information
This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Contact your healthcare provider if you experience any unexpected symptoms. For serious or life-threatening side effects, seek emergency medical attention immediately.
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following adverse reactions with droxidopa are included in more detail in the Warnings and Precautions section of the label: • Supine Hypertension [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] • Hyperpyrexia and Confusion [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] • May exacerbate existing ischemic heart disease, arrhythmias, and congestive heart failure [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] The most common adverse reactions (>5% and ≥3% compared to placebo) are headache, dizziness, nausea, and hypertension (6.1) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Slate Run Pharmaceuticals, LCC at 1-888-341-9214 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice.
The safety evaluation of droxidopa is based on two placebo-controlled studies 1 to 2 weeks in duration (Studies 301 and 302), one 8-week placebo-controlled study (Study 306), and two long-term, open-label extension studies (Studies 303 and 304).
In the placebo-controlled studies, a total of 485 patients with Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, pure autonomic failure, dopamine beta-hydroxylase deficiency, or non-diabetic autonomic neuropathy were randomized and treated, 245 with droxidopa and 240 with placebo [see Clinical Studies (14) ] .
Placebo-Controlled Experience The most commonly observed adverse reactions (those occurring at an incidence of greater than 5% in the droxidopa group and with at least a 3% greater incidence in the droxidopa group than in the placebo group) in droxidopa-treated patients during the three placebo-controlled trials were headache, dizziness, nausea, and hypertension.
The most common adverse reactions leading to discontinuation from droxidopa were hypertension or increased blood pressure and nausea.
Most Common Adverse Reactions Occurring More Frequently in the Droxidopa Group Study 301 and Study 302 (1 to 2 Weeks Randomized Treatment) Study 306 (8 to 10 Weeks Randomized Treatment) Placebo (N=132) n (%) Droxidopa (N=131) n (%) Placebo (N=108) n (%) Droxidopa (N=114) n (%) Headache 4 (3.0) 8 (6.1) 8 (7.4) 15 (13.2) Dizziness 2 (1.5) 5 (3.8) 5 (4.6) 11 (9.6) Nausea 2 (1.5) 2 (1.5) 5 (4.6) 10 (8.8) Hypertension 0 2 (1.5) 1 (0.9) 8 (7.0) Note: n=number of patients.
Adverse reactions that were reported in greater than 5% of patients in the droxidopa group and with at least a 3% greater incidence in the droxidopa group than in the placebo group were from Study
Long-Term, Open-Label Trials with Droxidopa In the long-term, open-label extension studies, a total of 422 patients, mean age 65 years, were treated with droxidopa for a mean total exposure of approximately one year.
The commonly reported adverse events were falls (24%), urinary tract infections (15%), headache (13%), syncope (13%), and dizziness (10%).
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS • Droxidopa may cause supine hypertension and may increase cardiovascular risk if supine hypertension is not well-managed (5.1) • Hyperpyrexia and confusion (5.2) • May exacerbate symptoms in patients with existing ischemic heart disease, arrhythmias, and congestive heart failure (5.3) • Allergic reactions (5.4) 5.1 Supine Hypertension Droxidopa therapy may cause or exacerbate supine hypertension in patients with nOH.
Patients should be advised to elevate the head of the bed when resting or sleeping.
Monitor blood pressure, both in the supine position and in the recommended head-elevated sleeping position.
Reduce or discontinue droxidopa if supine hypertension persists.
If supine hypertension is not well-managed, droxidopa may increase the risk of cardiovascular events, particularly stroke.
Like all medications, Droxidopa can cause side effects. However, not everyone who takes this medication will experience them. Many side effects are dose-dependent and may improve as your body adjusts to the medication. Others may require dose adjustment or medical attention.
Contact your healthcare provider promptly if you experience:
Seek immediate emergency medical care if you experience signs of: