One of five people living with Parkinson’s
disease (PD) are affected by symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension
(nOH), a condition that may go undiagnosed or unmanaged
April 20, 2016
DEERFIELD, Ill.
In partnership with
patients, caregivers and advocacy groups, Lundbeck announced today the launch
of nOH Matters, an initiative for people impacted by neurogenic orthostatic
hypotension (nOH). Caused by an underlying neurodegenerative disorder, nOH is a
sustained drop in blood pressure upon standing that can affect people with
certain nervous system disorders, including Parkinson’s disease (PD), multiple
system atrophy (MSA) and pure autonomic failure (PAF).1 Symptoms such as dizziness or lightheadedness,
passing out and falling are often experienced by people living with nOH, but
few resources have previously been available.2 Coinciding with PD Awareness Month this April, Lundbeck
announces the launch of nOH Matters to help patients and their care partners
recognize symptoms, discuss them with their doctor and share their personal experiences
with others living with nOH.
“Now that I have a better idea of what’s going on and how to manage my
symptoms, I’m excited to share my story and be part of a community that’s
helping others learn more about nOH.”
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In addition to a partnership with people with
nOH and their family and friends, nOH Matters is the result of collaboration
among leading patient organizations, including MSA Coalition, National
Parkinson Foundation, Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s, American
Parkinson Disease Association, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s
Research and the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, alongside Lundbeck.
Educational information will be available at national and local PD and MSA
events and support groups, and a website called www.nOHMatters.com
is now available featuring educational tools and resources for patients and
their families, including:
Symptom Checker: A checklist to help people see
which symptoms of nOH they may be experiencing. The form can be used at an
appointment with a healthcare provider to have a discussion about symptoms.
Find a Doctor: A resource to find a nearby nOH
specialist who can help diagnose and manage nOH.
As many as one in five of those living with PD,
and four in five of those living with MSA, may also be experiencing the
dizziness, lightheadedness and other signs of nOH. However, these symptoms are
often considered “just” another characteristic of the underlying
neurodegenerative disorder, even though nOH is a separate and often manageable
condition.
“When I started experiencing symptoms of
dizziness and lightheadedness, I struggled to describe the sensations to my
doctor,” said Jody Wright, a person living with PD and nOH and a member of
Lundbeck’s group of patients whose insights and input led to the creation of
the initiative. “Now that I have a better idea of what’s going on and how to
manage my symptoms, I’m excited to share my story and be part of a community
that’s helping others learn more about nOH.”
A new nOH Matters
Facebook page also allows patients and families to get regular
updates about nOH, discover community events and activities, share personal
experiences and encourage each other.
“We’ve heard stories from people with nOH who
went many years suffering from symptoms without a diagnosis because there has
been very little information available about the condition,” said Katie Moser,
Manager of Advocacy and Patient Support at Lundbeck. “Our goal with nOH Matters
is to provide awareness, information and tools that help people living with
nOH and their care partners recognize the signs and elevate symptoms with their
healthcare team.”
For more information, please visit www.nOHMatters.com
and www.facebook.com/nOHMatters.
About Lundbeck
Lundbeck is a global pharmaceutical company
specialized in psychiatric and neurological disorders. For more than 70 years,
we have been at the forefront of research within neuroscience. Our key areas of
focus are depression, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's
disease.
An estimated 700 million people worldwide are
living with psychiatric and neurological disorders and far too many suffer due
to inadequate treatment, discrimination, a reduced number of working days,
early retirement and other unnecessary consequences. Every day, we strive for
improved treatment and a better life for people living with psychiatric and
neurological disorders — we call this Progress in Mind.
Our approximately 5,300 employees in 55
countries are engaged in the entire value chain throughout research,
development, manufacturing, marketing and sales. Our pipeline consists of
several late-stage development programs and our products are available in more
than 100 countries. We have research centers in China and Denmark and
production facilities in China, Denmark, France and Italy. Lundbeck generated
core revenue of DKK 14.6 billion in 2015 (EUR 2 billion; USD 2.2 billion).
In the U.S., Lundbeck employs nearly 1,000
people focused solely on accelerating therapies for brain disorders. With a
special commitment to the lives of patients, families and caregivers, Lundbeck
U.S. actively engages in hundreds of initiatives each year that support our
patient communities.
References
1. Goldstein, David S. et. al. Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension: A
Pathophysiological Approach. Circulation. 2009;119:139-146.
2. Hauser, Robert A, et. al. Droxidopa for the short-term treatment of
symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension in Parkinson’s disease. Movement
Disorders. 2015:30;646-654
UBR-D-00381
Contacts
Lundbeck
Rachel Vann
Public Relations, Senior Manager
(847) 282-1139
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160420006289/en/Initiative-Sheds-Light-Undiagnosed-Condition-Parkinson’s-Disease
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