Bosentan prevents thickening of the blood vessels, especially those in the lungs and heart.
Bosentan also lowers blood pressure in your lungs, helping your heart pump blood more efficiently.
Bosentan is used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). It improves your ability to
exercise and prevents your condition from getting worse.
Bosentan may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking bosentan?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to bosentan, or if you:
are also taking HIV/AIDS medication that contains lopinavir or
ritonavir (Kaletra, Norvir);
are also taking using glyburide (Micronase, DiaBeta,
Glynase Pres Tab);
are pregnant or might become pregnant during treatment;
or
are also using cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral,
Gengraf).
Bosentan can cause severe liver problems. Symptoms include nausea,
stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the
skin or eyes). Call your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms. Your liver function will
need to be tested before you start taking bosentan, and again each month during your treatment.
FDA pregnancy category X. This medication can cause birth defects.
Do not use
bosentan if you are pregnant.
Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant during
treatment. Use an effective barrier form of birth control (such as a condom or diaphragm with
spermicide gel or inserts). Hormonal forms of contraception (such as birth control pills, injections,
implants, skin patches, and vaginal rings) may not be effective enough to prevent pregnancy during your
treatment.
Your doctor may have you take a pregnancy test before you start using this medicine, to make
sure you are not pregnant. You may also be re-tested each month during your treatment.
It is not known whether bosentan passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby.
Do not take this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take bosentan?
Take bosentan exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger or
smaller amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your
prescription label.
Take each dose with a full glass (8 ounces) of water.
Bosentan can be taken with or without food.
Bosentan is usually taken twice a day, morning and evening.
Do not stop taking bosentan without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use less
and less before you stop the medication completely.
Store bosentan at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose of bosentan?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the
missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time.
Do not
take
extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about bosentan?
Your pharmacist has information about bosentan written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of bosentan?
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:
nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite;
dark urine, clay-colored stools; or
jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Less serious side effects may include:
headache;
flushing;
swelling of the feet, ankles, or legs;
dizziness;
upset stomach;
fatigue; or
itching.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your
doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about bosentan?
This medication can cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Do not use if
you are pregnant.
Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant during treatment.
Use an effective barrier form of birth control (such as a condom or diaphragm with spermicide gel or
inserts). Hormonal forms of contraception (such as birth control pills, injections, implants, skin patches,
and vaginal rings) may not be effective enough to prevent pregnancy during your treatment.
Your doctor may have you take a pregnancy test before you start using this medicine, to make
sure you are not pregnant. You may also be re-tested each month during your treatment.
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to bosentan, or if you are also taking
cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf), glyburide (Micronase, DiaBeta, Glynase Pres Tab), or
HIV/AIDS medication that contains lopinavir or ritonavir (Kaletra, Norvir).
Bosentan can cause severe liver problems. Symptoms include nausea, stomach pain, low
fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). Call
your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms. Your liver function will need to be tested
before you start taking bosentan, and again each month during your treatment.
Do not stop taking bosentan without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use less
and less before you stop the medication completely.
What should I avoid while taking bosentan?
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while
you are using bosentan.
What other drugs will affect bosentan?
Do not take bosentan without first talking to your doctor if you are taking any of the
following medicines:
an antifungal medication such as ketoconazole (Nizoral),
fluconazole (Diflucan), or itraconazole (Sporanox);
a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin); or
a cholesterol-lowering medicine such as simvastatin
(Zocor), lovastatin (Mevacor), or atorvastatin (Lipitor).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs not listed that can
affect bosentan. 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.
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 11/10/2009