Northera Improves Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and Postural Vasovagal Syncope (VVS)

May 20, 2025 updated by: Julian Stewart, New York Medical College

Northera Improves Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and Postural

Vasovagal syncope (VVS, simple faint) is the most common cause of transient loss of consciousness and represents the acute episodic form of orthostatic intolerance (OI). Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is the common chronic form of OI. Both are defined by debilitating symptoms and signs while upright relieved by recumbency. Northera should therefore improve both sympathetic splanchnic arterial vasoconstriction and sympathetic splanchnic venoconstriction in POTS and VVS, and may represent an ideal drug to improve the orthostatic response in POTS and VVS.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Terminated

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Vasovagal syncope (VVS, simple faint) is the most common cause of transient loss of consciousness and represents the acute episodic form of orthostatic intolerance (OI). Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is the common chronic form of OI. Both are defined by debilitating symptoms and signs while upright relieved by recumbency. Pathophysiological mechanisms have remained elusive. Most POTS patients and all VVS patients have normal supine resting hemodynamics but excessively redistribute blood flow and blood volume from the central pool to the splanchnic vasculature because of defective splanchnic arterial vasoconstriction and venoconstriction. While peripheral and splanchnic arterial vasoconstriction depend primarily on post-junctional alpha-1 adrenergic receptors, splanchnic venoconstriction also depends on post-junctional alpha-2 adrenergic receptors. Consequently, selective alpha-1 agonists such as midodrine may not produce sufficient splanchnic venoconstriction to compensate for splanchnic pooling in POTS and VVS. Such alpha adrenergic subtype restrictions do not apply to Northera (droxidopa) because it is a norepinephrine (NE) prodrug and therefore increases the amount of synaptic NE that can then bind to both alpha-2 and alpha-1 receptors. Northera should therefore improve both sympathetic splanchnic arterial vasoconstriction and sympathetic splanchnic venoconstriction in POTS and VVS, and may represent an ideal drug to improve the orthostatic response in POTS and VVS. We will test the hypothesis that Northera, in appropriate dose, improves the splanchnic adrenergic deficits that initiate POTS and postural VVS and in sufficient daily dose improves quality of life in these patients. To accomplish this, the investigator will recruit 10 POTS patients aged 18-30 years, 10 similarly aged patients with 2 or more episodes of VVS in the past year (thus defining recurrent VVS) and 10 age and gender matched healthy volunteer control subjects with the following specific aims:

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
30

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • New York
      • Hawthorne, New York, United States, 10532
        • New York Medical College/Bradhurst Building

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 35 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Both male and female participants are being studied
  • Ages 18-30 years old
  • POTS cases will be referred for day-to-day Orthostatic Intolerance (OI) with ≥3 symptoms for >6 months.
  • POTS will be confirmed by medical history indicating chronic OI, and by a prior 700 tilt table test or standing test showing excessive tachycardia and symptoms OI in the absence of hypotension.
  • VVS (fainting) subjects will have at least 2 episodes of postural VVS during the past calendar year.
  • Healthy volunteers will be included for Study #1

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Only those free from all systemic illnesses will be eligible to participate. This excludes patients with illnesses associated with autonomic dysfunction such as diabetes, renal disease, congestive heart failure, systemic hypertension, acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, neoplasm, immune mediated disease, trauma, obesity, cancer, supine or upright hypertension, and peripheral vascular disease.
  • No subjects will be taking neurally active, or vasoactive drugs. Prior medication will be stopped for at least 2 weeks.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Placebo Comparator: Northera-single dose
Study #1 -Does single large dose (600mg) of Northera improve upright hemodynamics and orthostatic intolerance in POTS and VVS
Drug: Northera (Droxidopa)
Study #1 -Supine monitoring is performed for 30 minutes before administration of a single 600mg oral dose of Northera or placebo assigned randomly, After 2 hours supine a 70 degree upright tilt will performed for 10 minutes. On another day, subjects previously given Northera will receive placebo and vice versa and studies repeated.
Drug: Placebo
Study #1 -Supine monitoring is performed for 30 minutes before administration of a single 600mg oral dose of Northera or placebo assigned randomly, After 2 hours supine a 70 degree upright tilt will performed for 10 minutes. On another day, subjects previously given Northera will receive placebo and vice versa and studies repeated.
Drug: Northera (Droxidopa)
Study #2 -Patients will randomized to receive Northera or placebo for two weeks after which they will return for instrumented tilt studies as in Study 1. Doses of Northera will be titrated upwards by 100mg/dose every 48 hours from a starting dose of 100mg three times a day to a maximum of 600mg three times a day. Doses will be reduced to the preceding dose if systolic BP>140mmHg or diastolic BP>80mmHg measured in the seated position at home using an automated ambulatory blood pressure cuff 2 hours after receiving an oral dose. Doses will also be reduced if supine BP measured with the head of the bed elevated upon awakening in the morning exceeds 150/90 mmHg. Following a 1 week wash out period, subjects will receive the alternative treatment for 2 additional weeks and instrumented laboratory studies repeated.
Drug: Placebo
Study #2 -Patients will randomized to receive Northera or placebo for two weeks after which they will return for instrumented tilt studies as in Study 1. Doses of Northera will be titrated upwards by 100mg/dose every 48 hours from a starting dose of 100mg three times a day to a maximum of 600mg three times a day. Doses will be reduced to the preceding dose if systolic BP>140mmHg or diastolic BP>80mmHg measured in the seated position at home using an automated ambulatory blood pressure cuff 2 hours after receiving an oral dose. Doses will also be reduced if supine BP measured with the head of the bed elevated upon awakening in the morning exceeds 150/90 mmHg. Following a 1 week wash out period, subjects will receive the alternative treatment for 2 additional weeks and instrumented laboratory studies repeated.
Placebo Comparator: Northera- chronic administration
Study #2 -Patients will randomized to receive Northera or placebo for two weeks after which they will return for instrumented tilt studies as in Study 1. Doses of Northera will be titrated upwards by 100mg/dose every 48 hours from a starting dose of 100mg three times a day to a maximum of 600mg three times a day.
Drug: Northera (Droxidopa)
Study #1 -Supine monitoring is performed for 30 minutes before administration of a single 600mg oral dose of Northera or placebo assigned randomly, After 2 hours supine a 70 degree upright tilt will performed for 10 minutes. On another day, subjects previously given Northera will receive placebo and vice versa and studies repeated.
Drug: Placebo
Study #1 -Supine monitoring is performed for 30 minutes before administration of a single 600mg oral dose of Northera or placebo assigned randomly, After 2 hours supine a 70 degree upright tilt will performed for 10 minutes. On another day, subjects previously given Northera will receive placebo and vice versa and studies repeated.
Drug: Northera (Droxidopa)
Study #2 -Patients will randomized to receive Northera or placebo for two weeks after which they will return for instrumented tilt studies as in Study 1. Doses of Northera will be titrated upwards by 100mg/dose every 48 hours from a starting dose of 100mg three times a day to a maximum of 600mg three times a day. Doses will be reduced to the preceding dose if systolic BP>140mmHg or diastolic BP>80mmHg measured in the seated position at home using an automated ambulatory blood pressure cuff 2 hours after receiving an oral dose. Doses will also be reduced if supine BP measured with the head of the bed elevated upon awakening in the morning exceeds 150/90 mmHg. Following a 1 week wash out period, subjects will receive the alternative treatment for 2 additional weeks and instrumented laboratory studies repeated.
Drug: Placebo
Study #2 -Patients will randomized to receive Northera or placebo for two weeks after which they will return for instrumented tilt studies as in Study 1. Doses of Northera will be titrated upwards by 100mg/dose every 48 hours from a starting dose of 100mg three times a day to a maximum of 600mg three times a day. Doses will be reduced to the preceding dose if systolic BP>140mmHg or diastolic BP>80mmHg measured in the seated position at home using an automated ambulatory blood pressure cuff 2 hours after receiving an oral dose. Doses will also be reduced if supine BP measured with the head of the bed elevated upon awakening in the morning exceeds 150/90 mmHg. Following a 1 week wash out period, subjects will receive the alternative treatment for 2 additional weeks and instrumented laboratory studies repeated.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Study #1 and Study #2 - Splanchnic and lower extremity pooling (physiological parameter)
Time Frame: 2 weeks
Splanchnic and lower extremity pooling will be measured before, during, and after upright tilt. The investigators will use both venous occlusion plethysmography and impedance plethysmography. Venous occlusion plethysmography are made in ml/min by rapidly inflating cuffs to a pressure of 45mmHg and then computing the slope of the time dependent increase in cross limb section. During impedance plethysmography, a Tetrapolar High Resolution Impedance monitor 4-channel digital IPG is used to detect changes in regional blood volume and blood flow in ml/min
2 weeks
Study #2 -Quality of Life measured by self reporting questionnaire (RAND-36)
Time Frame: 6 weeks
The investigators will test whether chronic administration of Northera (Droxidopa) in escalating dose improves quality of life. Quality of life will be measured by the RAND-36 questionnaire. The RAND-36 is a set of generic, coherent, and easily administered quality-of-life measures. These measures rely upon patient self-reporting. The RAND 36-Item Health Survey (Version 1.0) taps eight health concepts: physical functioning, bodily pain, role limitations due to physical health problems, role limitations due to personal or emotional problems, emotional well-being, social functioning, energy/fatigue, and general health perceptions. It also includes a single item that provides an indication of perceived change in health. (2-4)
6 weeks
Study #2 -Quality of Life measured by self reporting questionnaire (COMPASS 31)
Time Frame: 6 weeks
The investigators will test whether chronic administration of Northera (Droxidopa) in escalating dose improves quality of life. Quality of life will be measured by the RAND-36 questionnaire (as shown in the above primary outcome) as well as the COMPASS 31 questionnaire. The COMPASS 31 "was developed as a self-assessment instrument of autonomic symptoms and function that is up-to-date, broadly applicable, easy to administer in a short amount of time, and based on a scientific approach. It was designed to provide a global autonomic severity score and domain scores that are both clinically and scientifically meaningful." "COMPASS 31 is based on the well-established ASP [Autonomic Symptom Profile], a comprehensive questionnaire assessing autonomic symptoms across multiple domains." (1)
6 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Study #1 and Study #2 -Blood pressure (BP)
Time Frame: 2 weeks
During laboratory testing, blood pressure will be continuously monitored in mmHg
2 weeks
Study #1 and Study #2 -Heart rate (HR)
Time Frame: 2 weeks
During laboratory testing, heart rate will be continuously monitored in beats/minute.
2 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
New York Medical College

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Lundbeck LLC

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Julian M Stewart, M.D., Ph.D., New York Medical College

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 1, 2015

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 1, 2022

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 1, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 21, 2015

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 22, 2015

First Posted (Estimated)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
September 24, 2015

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 23, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 20, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • L-11,388

Drug and device information, study documents

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings