ILOPROST (Inhalation)?
Some commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S.?
? Not commercially available in Canada.
Category
- Antihypertensive (pulmonary)
Description
Iloprost (EYE-loe-prost) is used totreat the symptoms of pulmonary arterial hypertension. This is the high bloodpressure that occurs in the main artery that carries blood from the rightside of the heart (the ventricle) to the lungs. When the smaller blood vesselsin the lungs become more resistant to blood flow, the right ventricle mustwork harder to pump enough blood through the lungs. Iloprost works by blockinga hormone (a naturally occurring substance), that is found in the blood andlungs in large quantities of the people with pulmonary arterial hypertension.Iloprost helps by increasing the supply of blood to the lungs and reducingthe workload of the heart.
This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription, in thefollowing dosage forms:
Inhalation- Inhalation solution (U.S.)
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine,the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do.This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For iloprost, the followingshould be considered:
Allergies?Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusualor allergic reaction to iloprost. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist ifyou are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, ordyes.
Pregnancy?Iloprost has not been studied in pregnant women.However, studies in animals have shown that iloprost causes unwanted effects.Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnantor if you may become pregnant.
Breast-feeding?It is not known whether iloprost passes intobreast milk. However, iloprost is not recommended during breast-feeding, becauseit may cause unwanted effects in nursing babies.
Children?Studies on this medicine have been done only inadult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of iloprostin children with use in other age groups.
Older adults?Many medicines have not been studied specificallyin older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactlythe same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific informationcomparing use of iloprost in the elderly with use in other age groups, elderlypatients may be more sensitive to the effects of this medicine.
Other medicines?Although certain medicines should not be usedtogether at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used togethereven if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want tochange the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health careprofessional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter[OTC]) medicine.
Other medical problems?The presence of other medicalproblems may affect the use of iloprost. Make sure you tell your doctor ifyou have any other medical problems, especially:
- Asthma or
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or
- Lung infection?Caution, iloprost has not been studied in patientsthese conditions
- Kidney disease or
- Liver disease?May increase the amount of iloprost in your blood
- Low blood pressure?Iloprost therapy should not be started inpatients with low blood pressure
Proper Use of This Medicine
The importance of proper administration techniques including dosing frequency,ampule dispensing, Prodose AAD System operation, and equipment cleaning.
The importance of proper dosing intervals of not lessthan 2 hours apart
The importance of a back-up Prodose AAD System, toavoid potential interruptions in drug delivery due to equipment malfunctions.
Discarding any remaining solution in the medicationchamber after each inhalation session
Dosing?The dose of iloprost will be different fordifferent patients. Follow your doctor's orders or thedirections on the label. The following information includes only theaverage doses of iloprost. If your dose is different,do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
- For inhalation dosage form (solutions):
- For pulmonary arterial hypertension:
- Adults?2.5 micrograms (mcg) for the first dose; if well tolerated,dosing may be increased to 5 mcg and maintained at that dose, taken 6 to 9times per day (no more that every 2 hours) during waking hours.
- Children?Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
Missed dose?If you miss a dose of this medicine, take itas soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skipthe missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not doubledoses.
Storage?To store this medicine:
- Keep out of the reach of children.
- Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in otherdamp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
- Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Ask yourhealth care professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do notuse. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
Precautions While Using This Medicine
Regularvisits: If you will be taking this medicine for a long time, it is very important that your doctor check you at regular visits.
Patients may have a drop in blood pressure, and may become dizzy or faint. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before youdrive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you aredizzy.
Side Effects of This Medicine
Along with its needed effects, a medicinemay cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects mayoccur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctorimmediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Frequency unknown
Chest pain; decreased urine output; difficult or labored breathing; dilatedneck veins; extreme fatigue; fainting; fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeator pulse; irregular breathing; irregular heartbeat; kidney failure; palpitations; shortness of breath; swelling of face, fingers, feet, or lower legs; tightness in chest; troubled breathing; tingling of hands or feet; unusual weight gain or loss; weight gain; wheezing
Symptoms of overdose
Get emergency help immediately if any of the followingsymptoms of overdose occur
Blurred vision; confusion; diarrhea; dizziness, faintness, or lightheadednesswhen getting up from a lying or sitting position suddenly; feeling of warmth; headache; nausea; redness of the face, neck, arms and occasionally,upper chest; sweating; unusual tiredness or weakness; vomiting
Otherside effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These sideeffects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine.However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continueor are bothersome.
More common
Abnormal lab test; back pain; blurred vision, confusion, dizziness, faintness, or lightheadednesswhen getting up from a lying or sitting position suddenly; chills; cough increased; coughing or spitting up blood; diarrhea; difficulty opening the mouth; feelingof warmth; fever; generalfeeling of discomfort or illness; headache; joint pain; lockjaw; loss of appetite; muscle aches and pains; muscle cramps; muscle spasms, especiallyof neck and back; nausea; redness of the face, neck, arms and occasionally, upper chest; runny nose; shivering; sore throat; sweating; trouble sleeping; sleeplessness; unable to sleep; unusual tiredness orweakness; vomiting
Other side effects not listed above may also occur insome patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
Developed: 06/09/2005
