How Assistance Works
Streamlining our patient’s specialty pharmacy experience with unmatched full-service convenience
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1. Check Your Coverage/Benefits Verification
Our team of expert billers finds the best avenues of coverage that minimize out-of-pocket costs.
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2. Transfer Prescription to AmeriPharma™
We process your prescription by working with your previous pharmacy or prescriber, making the transition quick and easy.
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3. Prior Authorization
Our team of specialists obtains approval from your insurance companies within 24 to 72 hours.
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4. Copay Assistance & Financial Aid
We secure financial aid and decrease copays, out-of-pocket expenses, and high deductibles. To date, AmeriPharma™ Specialty Care has secured $55 million in financial assistance for our patients.
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5. Nursing Care Coordination
AmeriPharma™ puts your schedule and home environment first when scheduling and coordinating one of our specialized nurses for your in-home infusions.
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6. Delivery Coordination
Medications are always delivered in strict compliance with the specific requirements for shipping. Next-day and overnight cold-chain deliveries are coordinated around your schedule.
What Is Droxidopa?
Droxidopa is a generic form of the brand-name drug called Northera. This prescription medication was first approved by the FDA in 2014 for treating the symptoms of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH), which involves fainting, dizziness, or lightheadedness when standing after sitting or lying down. Droxidopa is a type of prodrug (a drug that is converted into an active form once it reaches its target area) and belongs to the class of alpha and beta-adrenergic agonists.
This medication is indicated to regulate standing blood pressure by temporarily increasing the level of norepinephrine in your body. Norepinephrine, also known as noradrenaline, is a type of neurotransmitter (brain chemical) that is needed to regulate blood pressure.
Droxidopa is available in oral capsule form and can only be obtained via a doctor’s prescription.
What Is Droxidopa Used To Treat?
Droxidopa is used to treat symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension – a chronic and potentially debilitating condition characterized by a sustained drop of blood pressure upon standing due to low production or release of norepinephrine. This condition may arise as a result of autonomic failure and mainly occurs in patients suffering from certain neurologic disorders such as pure autonomic failure (PAF), multiple system atrophy (MSA), and Parkinson’s disease (PD).
These neurologic disorders mainly affect the patient’s autonomic nervous system (typically involved in regulating various involuntary functions such as heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure), which leads to inadequate release of norepinephrine. The dysregulation in norepinephrine release results in low blood pressure in neurogenic OH patients whenever they stand.
Due to a drop in blood pressure, neurogenic OH patients experience severe dizziness, lightheadedness, syncope, blurred vision, faintness (feeling of passing out), and loss of consciousness.
Between 80,000 – 150,000 people are thought to suffer from the symptoms of neurogenic OH in the United States.
Copay and Financial Assistance
AmeriPharma™ Specialty Care alleviates financial burdens for patients and their families
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Advanced software locates funding sources to match you with top-dollar foundation programs
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One of our copay assistance specialists will assist with the application process
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Automatic updates will be sent to you and your physician on the status of the funding
Droxidopa Dosage
The recommended initial (starting) dose of droxidopa is 100 mg 3 times a day during waking hours (in the morning, at midday, and in the late afternoon at least 3 hours before bedtime). The dose of droxidopa is titrated (adjusted) according to symptomatic response (where the patient’s symptoms respond to the drug).
Depending on the symptomatic response, the droxidopa dose can be increased by increments of 100 mg 3 times a day, up to a maximum dose of 600 mg three times/day. The maximum recommended total daily dose of droxidopa is 1800 mg. Dose titration and adjustment must be done by the treating doctor.
The dose of droxidopa could vary from patient to patient and is done in a very stringent fashion to improve neurogenic OH symptoms and avoid an excessive increase in blood pressure.
What To Do if You Miss a Dose
Take your dose consistently as prescribed by your doctor. In case of a missed dose, avoid taking a double dose of droxidopa to compensate for the missed dose.
If you accidentally took your dose less than 3 hours before bedtime, consult your healthcare provider immediately to reduce the risk of supine hypertension.
Droxidopa Side Effects
Some common side effects reported by patients taking droxidopa include but are not limited to:
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Hypertension (increased blood pressure)
These symptoms are temporary and can be managed easily. However, if the symptoms persist and do not go away within two weeks during droxidopa therapy, you should report to your healthcare provider immediately.
Moreover, some side effects can be severe and require immediate medical attention, such as:
Supine Hypertension
Droxidopa can cause or worsen supine hypertension in NOH patients. Supine hypertension is a condition in which a patient’s blood pressure rises when they lie flat on their back. Supine hypertension increases the risk of stroke if not appropriately managed.
Doctors recommend that patients should check their blood pressure before going to bed, and while resting or sleeping, they should elevate the head of the bed to avoid the risk of supine hypertension. Blood pressure should also be monitored whenever changing the Droxidopa dose.
Arrhythmias, Congestive Heart Failure, and Ischemic Heart Disease
Droxidopa therapy may exacerbate existing arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, and ischemic heart disease. It is recommended to discuss your health status with your doctor before initiating droxidopa.
Severe Allergic Reaction
Droxidopa contains tartrazine (a lemon yellow azo dye used in food coloring and medication), which may cause a severe allergic reaction (including bronchial asthma) in some patients with NOH.
Hyperpyrexia and Confusion
Hyperpyrexia (a condition where the body temperature goes above 106.7 degrees Fahrenheit) and confusion symptoms are also reported in patients receiving droxidopa therapy during post-marketing surveillance.
Therefore, carefully observing the patients when the droxidopa dosage is changed is recommended.
Insurances Accepted
We accept Medicare, multi-state Medicaid, Medi-Cal, Blue Shield, and most private insurances. Call us to find out more about your coverage.
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(877) 778-0318
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