Trade name Northera
Oral agent with 90% bioavailability.
Metabolism by hepatic breakdown.
Half-life of 1.5 hours
Renal excretion.
A synthetic amino acid precursor which acts as a prodrug to the neurotransmitters norepinephrine (noradrenaline) and epinephrine (adrenaline).
Unlike norepinephrine and epinephrine can cross the protective blood–brain barrier.
Treatment for neurogenic orthostatic hypotension, familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP), autonomic failure (PAF), Parkinson’s disease (PD), hemodialysis-induced hypotension, Hypotension associated with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
A prodrug of norepinephrine and epinephrine to increase the concentrations of these neurotransmitters in the body and brain.
Works by increasing the levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine in the peripheral nervous system and induces tachycardia or or increased blood pressure, thus enabling the body to maintain blood flow upon standing.
Increased levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine in the central nervous system (CNS) may be beneficial to Parkinson’s disease.
Side effects: tachycardia, hypertension, nausea and vomiting, headache or migraines.