Northeradroxidopa
According to the FDA label: Droxidopa capsules indicated for the treatment of orthostatic dizziness, lightheadedness, or the “feeling that you are about to black out” in adult patients with symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (nOH) caused by primary autonomic failure (Parkinson's disease [PD], multiple system atrophy, and pure autonomic failure), dopamine beta-hydroxylase deficiency, and non-diabetic autonomic neuropathy. Effectiveness beyond 2 weeks of treatment has not been established.
21,343 adverse event reports submitted to the FDA (2004–2026)
Top Reported Adverse Events
The most frequently reported events in association with Northera in the FAERS database. These are events reported by patients taking this medication, not necessarily caused by it. A single report may include multiple events.
Show these terms with plain-language definitions
Tap any term below for a plain-language definition.
Dizziness 2,907 reports
A feeling of being lightheaded, unsteady, or like the room is spinning.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Death 2,159 reports
A report that the person died. A death appearing in reports for a drug does not mean the drug caused it. Reports record that a death occurred while the medication was being used, which can happen for many unrelated reasons.
Full definition in the glossary →Blood Pressure Increased 1,881 reports
A reading showing higher than normal blood pressure. Similar to hypertension, which describes the ongoing condition.
Full definition in the glossary →Drug Ineffective 1,657 reports
A report that the medication did not work as expected for the person taking it. This is a reporting category, not a sign the drug is defective. It simply means someone felt it was not helping their condition.
Full definition in the glossary →Headache 1,583 reports
Pain in the head or upper neck.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Fall 1,500 reports
A report that the person fell down. Falls are tracked because they can signal issues like dizziness, weakness, or balance problems.
Full definition in the glossary →Hypotension 1,254 reports
Fatigue 1,194 reports
Extreme tiredness or lack of energy that does not improve with rest.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Hypertension 1,147 reports
Nausea 1,063 reports
The feeling of sickness in your stomach that often comes before vomiting.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →- Blood Pressure Decreased 1,013 reports
Drug Dose Omission 958 reports
A report that a dose of medication was missed or skipped.
Full definition in the glossary →Loss of Consciousness 847 reports
Fainting or passing out, a temporary loss of awareness.
Full definition in the glossary →Malaise 841 reports
A general feeling of being unwell or uncomfortable, without a specific symptom.
Full definition in the glossary →- Blood Pressure Fluctuation 763 reports
Ranked by frequency of reports, not severity. The most-reported event is not necessarily the most dangerous or the most common in patients taking this drug.
Who Is Reporting
Demographics of patients in FAERS reports that included this information. Not all reports include patient demographics.
By Sex
View reporter sex data as a table
| Sex | Reports |
|---|---|
| Male | 11,059 |
| Female | 9,702 |
| Unknown | 3 |
By Age Group
View age group data as a table
| Age group | Reports |
|---|---|
| 0-17 | 104 |
| 18-34 | 686 |
| 35-49 | 1,108 |
| 50-64 | 2,283 |
| 65-74 | 3,403 |
| 75+ | 5,642 |
This shows who filed reports, reflecting who takes this drug and who tends to report, not who is at greatest risk.
Reported Outcomes
Outcomes recorded in FAERS reports that included Northera. A single report may involve multiple reactions, each with a different outcome. These categories are defined by FDA reporting guidelines, not by PillSignal.
View outcome data as a table
| Outcome | Reports |
|---|---|
| Non-Serious | 13,120 |
| Hospitalization | 3,339 |
| Other Serious | 3,225 |
| Death | 2,797 |
| Life-Threatening | 107 |
| Disability | 51 |
Serious outcomes are far more likely to be reported than mild ones, so this overstates how often outcomes are serious. A recorded death does not mean the drug caused it.
Report Volume Over Time
Number of FAERS reports received per quarter for Northera. Changes in volume may reflect shifts in prescribing rates, media attention, or reporting behavior, not changes in the medication's safety profile.
View report trend as a table
| Year | Reports |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 15 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 169 |
| 2015 | 2,362 |
| 2016 | 3,714 |
| 2017 | 4,065 |
| 2018 | 3,508 |
| 2019 | 2,034 |
| 2020 | 2,274 |
| 2021 | 1,495 |
| 2022 | 453 |
| 2023 | 422 |
| 2024 | 365 |
| 2025 | 357 |
| 2026 (partial) | 64 |
The steep increase around 2004 reflects the FDA's move to electronic submission, not a change in this drug's safety. Trends track reporting volume, not risk.
Medications commonly reported with Northera
In FDA adverse event reports that mention Northera, these medications appeared most often in the same report.
- Carbidopa And Levodopa (1,042 reports)
- Aspirin (797 reports)
- Ergocalciferol (792 reports)
- Gabapentin (621 reports)
- Pimavanserin (579 reports)
This reflects co-occurrence in submitted reports, not evidence of drug interaction or combined risk. People often report several medications taken for the same condition or for unrelated reasons. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your specific medications.
Related Drugs
Other medications with similar adverse event profiles in FDA FAERS reports.
Data Source
This data is sourced from the FDA's Adverse Event Monitoring System (AEMS), formerly FAERS, via the OpenFDA API. PillSignal is not affiliated with the FDA.
View this data on the FDA website →Data last updated: June 2026