Dear readers of ADxS.org, please forgive the disruption.

ADxS.org needs about $36850 in 2023. In 2022 we received donations from third parties of about $ 13870. Unfortunately, 99.8% of our readers do not donate. If everyone who reads this request makes a small contribution, our fundraising campaign for 2023 would be over after a few days. This donation request is displayed 18,000 times a week, but only 40 people donate. If you find ADxS.org useful, please take a minute and support ADxS.org with your donation. Thank you!

Since 01.06.2021 ADxS.org is supported by the non-profit ADxS e.V..

$16307 of $36850 - as of 2023-08-31
44%
I would like to donate via PayPal
More info about donations
ADxS.org Logo
ADxS.org Logo
Search Sitemap Donations Last Changes Deutsche Version
Register

Existing Account? Login

Header Image
Droxidopa for ADHD

Sitemap

The ADxS.org project
Abstract of ADxS.org
Symptoms
Consequences
Origin
Stress
Neurological aspects
Diagnostics
Prevention
Treatment and therapy
Medication for ADHD - Overview
Suitable medication for ADHD
Experimental drugs for ADHD
Sleep disorder-related medications for ADHD
Appetite stimulating drugs for ADHD
ADHD drugs in development
Less appropriate medication for ADHD
Vitamins, minerals, dietary supplements for ADHD
Plant extracts for ADHD
Medication and drugs - the difference
Substance abuse with self-medication effects in ADHD.
This and That about ADHD
Tests and surveys
Forum

Droxidopa for ADHD

Previous Page Next Page

Droxidopa (L-threo-dihydroxyphenylserine, L-DOPS) is a prodrug of dopamine and norepinephrine. It can cross the blood-brain barrier and is converted to dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain.

USA: Northera (since 2014)
Japan: DOPS (since 1989)
Switzerland: no approval so far

Droxidopa is considered an orphan drug.

A combination of droxidopa and benserazide, a peripheral amino acid decarboxylase inhibitor, had a stimulatory effect on the PFC and inhibited dopaminergic neurons in rats. Further, in juvenile SHR/NCrl rats, which serve as an animal model of ADHD-C, showed:1

  • Hyperactivity reduced
  • Impulsivity reduced
  • Inattention reduced

In juvenile WKY/NCrl rats, which serve as an animal model of ADHD-I subtype, administration of droxidopa with benserazide induced:1

  • Impulsivity reduced
  • Inattention unchanged

Its use in the treatment of ADHD in humans has hardly been researched to date.
A small open-label trial of droxidopa (200 to 600 mg 3 times a day for 3 weeks) found improvement in ADHD symptoms without significant side effects. Nevertheless, 7 of the 20 participants terminated participation prematurely.2

  1. Dela Peña, Shen, Shi (2021): Droxidopa alters dopamine neuron and prefrontal cortex activity and improves attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder-like behaviors in rats. Eur J Pharmacol. 2021 Feb 5;892:173826. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173826. PMID: 33347825. ↥ ↥

  2. Adler, Gorny (2019): Pilot Study of Droxidopa With Carbidopa in Adults With ADHD. J Atten Disord. 2019 Jan;23(2):189-198. doi: 10.1177/1087054715580393. PMID: 25907673. n = 20 ↥

Previous Page Next Page