Finding a Specialist: Find a Specialist Who Can Diagnose and Treat PBA

Finding a
Specialist

An African-American woman with short blonde hair is wearing a brown sweatshirt. She is typing on a keyboard, looking at a laptop screen with a neutral expression.

An African-American woman with short blonde hair is wearing a brown sweatshirt. She is typing on a keyboard, looking at a laptop screen with a neutral expression.

Actor portrayal. Not a real PBA patient.

Specialists Who Treat PBA

If you think you may have Pseudobulbar Affect (PBA), it’s important to talk to a specialist. Any doctor who is knowledgeable about PBA can provide a diagnosis, although not all doctors will be familiar with the condition. Doctors who specialize in treating neurologic conditions and brain injuries may have experience in treating PBA. Below is a short list of specialists who may be familiar with PBA:

Neurologists
Psychiatrists
Neuropsychiatrists
Brain injury specialists
Physiatrists (physical medicine and rehabilitation)

Finding a Specialist Who Can Treat PBA

Not all healthcare providers are familiar with PBA. It's important to speak to a specialist who can diagnose and treat PBA.

Find a Pseudobulbar Affect Specialist on Healthgrades.

What to Expect When Speaking With a Specialist

Here are some topics you might discuss:

Underlying conditions, such as Alzheimer disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), or traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Symptoms, such as uncontrollable outbursts of laughing, crying, or both
The impact of these symptoms and how to manage PBA

Prepare for Your Appointment

Set yourself up for a productive doctor’s appointment by preparing in advance. Get a checklist of what to bring and tips on speaking to your doctor.

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Actor portrayals. Not a real PBA patient or doctor.

A senior woman having a conversation with her doctor

A senior woman having a conversation with her doctor

INDICATION and IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION for NUEDEXTA^® (dextromethorphan HBr and quinidine sulfate)

INDICATION:

NUEDEXTA is approved for the treatment of Pseudobulbar Affect (PBA).

PBA is a medical condition that causes involuntary, sudden, and frequent episodes of crying and/or laughing in people living with certain neurologic conditions or brain injury. PBA episodes are typically exaggerated or don’t match how the person feels. PBA is distinct and different from other types of emotional changes caused by neurologic disease or injury.

NUEDEXTA is only available by prescription.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:

Before you take NUEDEXTA, tell your doctor:

If you are taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), quinidine, or quinidine-related drugs. These can interact with NUEDEXTA causing serious side effects. MAOIs cannot be taken within 14 days before or after taking NUEDEXTA.
If you have previously had an allergic reaction to dextromethorphan, quinidine or quinidine-like drugs.
About all medicines, herbal supplements, and vitamins you take as NUEDEXTA and certain other medicines can interact causing side effects.
If you have had heart disease or have a family history of heart rhythm problems. NUEDEXTA may cause serious side effects, including changes in heart rhythm. If you have certain heart problems, NUEDEXTA may not be right for you. Your doctor may test your heart rhythm (heartbeats) before you start NUEDEXTA.
If you have myasthenia gravis.

While taking NUEDEXTA, call your doctor right away:

If you feel faint or lose consciousness.
If you experience lightheadedness, chills, fever, nausea, or vomiting as these may be signs of an allergic reaction to NUEDEXTA. Hepatitis has been seen in patients taking quinidine, an ingredient in NUEDEXTA.
If you have unexplained bleeding or bruising. Quinidine, an ingredient in NUEDEXTA, can cause a reduction in the number of platelets in your blood which can be severe and, if left untreated, can be fatal.
If you feel dizzy, since it may increase your risk of falling.
If you have muscle twitching, confusion, high blood pressure, fever, restlessness, sweating, or shivering, as these may be signs of a potential drug interaction called serotonin syndrome.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: (Continued)

While taking NUEDEXTA, call your doctor right away:

If you feel faint or lose consciousness.
If you experience lightheadedness, chills, fever, nausea, or vomiting as these may be signs of an allergic reaction to NUEDEXTA. Hepatitis has been seen in patients taking quinidine, an ingredient in NUEDEXTA.
If you have unexplained bleeding or bruising. Quinidine, an ingredient in NUEDEXTA, can cause a reduction in the number of platelets in your blood which can be severe and, if left untreated, can be fatal.
If you feel dizzy, since it may increase your risk of falling.
If you have muscle twitching, confusion, high blood pressure, fever, restlessness, sweating, or shivering, as these may be signs of a potential drug interaction called serotonin syndrome.

The most common side effects of NUEDEXTA include: diarrhea, dizziness, cough, vomiting, weakness, and swelling of feet and ankles. This is not a complete list of side effects. Tell your doctor about any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

You are encouraged to report side effects of NUEDEXTA^® (dextromethorphan HBr and quinidine sulfate). Please contact Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. at 1-800-438-9927 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (www.fda.gov/medwatch).

Please read FULL PRESCRIBING INFORMATION.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:

If you are taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), quinidine, or quinidine-related drugs. These can interact with NUEDEXTA causing serious side effects. MAOIs cannot be taken within 14 days before or after taking NUEDEXTA.

If you have previously had an allergic reaction to dextromethorphan, quinidine or quinidine-like drugs.
About all medicines, herbal supplements, and vitamins you take as NUEDEXTA and certain other medicines can interact causing side effects.
If you have had heart disease or have a family history of heart rhythm problems. NUEDEXTA may cause serious side effects, including changes in heart rhythm. If you have certain heart problems, NUEDEXTA may not be right for you. Your doctor may test your heart rhythm (heartbeats) before you start NUEDEXTA.