Remodulin

Generic Name: treprostinil
Other Brand Names: treprostinil

What is treprostinil?

Treprostinil dilates (or widens) the arteries and decrease the amount of blood clotting platelets in your body. These effects lower blood pressure in the pulmonary artery that leads from the heart to the lungs.

Treprostinil is used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). It improves your ability to exercise and prevents your condition from getting worse.

Treprostinil may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Uses Side Effects Precautions Interactions Overdose
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking treprostinil?

Tell your doctor if you have:

  • liver disease;

  • kidney disease; or

  • bleeding or blood clotting problems.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use treprostinil, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether treprostinil passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take treprostinil?

Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor.

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication.

Treprostinil is given as an continuous (around-the-clock) injection using an infusion pump. The medicine enters the body through a catheter placed under your skin or into a vein. Your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist will give you specific instructions on how to use an infusion pump and inject your medicine. Do not give yourself an injection if you do not understand these instructions. Call your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist for help with injection instructions.

Your doctor may want you to be in a hospital when you start using treprostinil. This is so you can be watched for any signs of serious side effects from the medicine.

You will probably have to use this medicine for several months or years to control your condition and keep it from getting worse.

It is important to use treprostinil regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely. Make sure you have a backup infusion pump and infusion sets available so as not to interrupt your treatment if one infusion pump stops working.

Do not use the medication if it has changed colors or has any particles in it. Call your doctor for a new prescription.

Store unopened vials (bottles) of treprostinil at room temperature away from moisture and heat. After the medicine has been placed into a syringe or pump, it should be given within 72 hours. If the medicine has been diluted (mixed with a liquid), you must use the medicine within 48 hours after mixing.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse.

What happens if I miss a dose of treprostinil?

Call your doctor for instructions.

Where can I get more information about treprostinil?
Your pharmacist has information about treprostinil written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of treprostinil?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

  • new or worsening PAH symptoms such as feeling short of breath (even with mild exertion), tiredness, chest pain, and pale skin; or

  • swelling of your ankles or feet.

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur, such as:

  • pain, swelling, redness, bleeding, or a hard lump where your catheter is placed;

  • skin rash;

  • headache or jaw pain;

  • flushing (warmth, redness or tingling); or

  • diarrhea or nausea.

Side effects other than those listed here have also been reported. Discuss with your doctor any side effect that occurs during treatment with treprostinil.

What is the most important information I should know about treprostinil?

Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, kidney disease, a bleeding disorder, or blood clotting problems. Tell your doctor if you use blood thinners, diuretics (water pills), or medication to treat high blood pressure or congestive heart failure.

Treprostinil is given as an continuous (around-the-clock) injection using an infusion pump. The medicine enters the body through a catheter placed under your skin or into a vein. Your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist will give you specific instructions on how to use an infusion pump and inject your medicine.

Your doctor may want you to be in a hospital when you start using treprostinil. This is so you can be watched for any signs of serious side effects from the medicine.

You will probably have to use this medicine for several months or years to control your condition and keep it from getting worse.

It is important to use treprostinil regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely. Make sure you have a backup infusion pump and infusion sets available so as not to interrupt your treatment if one infusion pump stops working.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse.

What should I avoid while taking treprostinil?

Do not stop using treprostinil without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely.

What other drugs will affect treprostinil?

Before using treprostinil, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

  • medications to treat high blood pressure;

  • medication to treat congestive heart failure, such as hydralazine (Apresoline, BiDil), nesiritide (Natrecor), nitroglycerin, or nitroprusside (Nitropress);

  • alprostadil (Caverject, Edex, Muse);

  • minoxidil (Loniten);

  • bosentan (Tracleer);

  • a diuretic (water pill); or

  • a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin).

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use treprostinil, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect treprostinil. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

What happens if I have an overdose of treprostinil?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Symptoms of a treprostinil overdose may include flushing, headache, feeling light-headed, fainting, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or seizure (convulsions).

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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 2/11/2008