Resources
As a pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patient or caregiver, you want to be as informed as possible when starting a new therapy or choosing among treatments. The PEER Network is dedicated to providing you with resources that will help answer your questions about United Therapeutics Corporation therapies. The resources on this page will further help you understand the differences among these PAH therapies and connect you with the companies that bring these treatments to PAH patients and caregivers.
Pulmonary Hypertension Association – PHA’s mission is to find ways to prevent and cure pulmonary arterial hypertension and to provide hope for the PAH community through support, education, advocacy and awareness.
Living PAH – Living PAH is a program that brings together a comprehensive network of support, assistance, and education for people with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) who are taking Tyvaso® (treprostinil) Inhalation Solution or Remodulin® (treprostinil) Injection. With Living PAH, you can learn more about your disease and its treatment. You can also access assistance with reimbursement, clinical nurses for non-medical advice and more. For more information or to enroll, call (877) 948-9137 or visit the Living PAH Web site.
United Therapeutics – United Therapeutics Corporation is a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of unique products to address the unmet medical needs of patients with chronic and life-threatening conditions. For more information, call the United Therapeutics Customer Service Line at 877-UNITHER (877-864-8437).
Tyvaso.com – Learn more about Tyvaso® (treprostinil) Inhalation Solution and find Full Prescribing Information or call the United Therapeutics Customer Service Line at 877-UNITHER (877-864-8437).
Remodulin.com – Learn more about Remodulin® (treprostinil) Injection and find Full Prescribing Information or call the United Therapeutics Customer Service Line at 877-UNITHER (877-864-8437).
THE PEER NETWORK IS INTENDED FOR U.S. AUDIENCES ONLY. This PEER Network program and Web site are sponsored by United Therapeutics Corporation. Program participation, product copy and claims are intended only for residents of the United States. Products sold under the same brand names outside of the United States may be subject to different regulatory approvals and standards. If you are located outside of the United States, please consult with your local physician or pharmacy for information about Tyvaso® (treprostinil) Inhalation Solution or Remodulin® (treprostinil) Injection.
Reporting Adverse Events
Please note that this Web site does not collect or report adverse events. If you are taking Tyvaso or Remodulin and have experienced or are experiencing a potential adverse event, please inform your healthcare provider.
Tyvaso® (treprostinil) Inhalation Solution
INDICATION
Tyvaso is a prescription medicine used in adults to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (WHO Group 1), which is high blood pressure in the arteries of your lungs. Tyvaso can improve exercise ability in people who also take bosentan (an endothelin receptor antagonist) or sildenafil (a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor). The effects decrease over 4 hours; treatment timing can be adjusted for planned activities.
Studies establishing effectiveness included predominately patients with NYHA Functional Class III symptoms and etiologies of idiopathic or heritable PAH (56%) or PAH associated with connective tissue diseases (33%).
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION for Tyvaso
- Tyvaso is breathed in (inhaled) through your mouth into your lungs. Tyvaso should only be used with the Tyvaso Inhalation System.
- The effects of Tyvaso are unknown in patients with lung disease (such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and in patients under 18 years of age.
- If you have low blood pressure, Tyvaso may cause symptomatic hypotension (low blood pressure).
- Because Tyvaso reduces the ability of your blood to clot (coagulate), it may increase your risk for bleeding if you are taking blood thinners (anticoagulants), such as warfarin or heparin.
- The use of Tyvaso with diuretics (water pills), antihypertensives (medications used to treat high blood pressure or heart disease), or other vasodilators (medications that lower blood pressure) may increase your risk for hypotension (low blood pressure).
Other medical conditions and medicines may affect your use of Tyvaso by increasing the risk of side effects or decreasing effectiveness. It is important to tell your doctor about your medical conditions and any medicines you may be taking, including:
- If you are taking gemfibrozil (for high cholesterol) or rifampin (for infection), your Tyvaso dosage may need adjustment.
- If you have liver or kidney problems, your ability to tolerate Tyvaso may be affected.
- If you are pregnant, breast-feeding, or planning to become pregnant, talk with your healthcare provider about whether you should take Tyvaso.
The most common side effects of Tyvaso are coughing, headache, throat irritation and pain, nausea, reddening of the face and neck (flushing), and fainting or loss of consciousness. These are not all the possible side effects of Tyvaso. Tell your doctor about any side effects that bother you or do not go away. Your doctor may be able to help you manage the side effects.
For additional information about Tyvaso, please see accompanying Full Prescribing Information, Patient Package Insert and the Tyvaso Inhalation System Instructions for Use manual, visit www.tyvaso.com, or call 1-877-864-8437.
Remodulin® (treprostinil) Injection
INDICATION
Remodulin is a prostacyclin vasodilator indicated for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (WHO Group 1) to diminish symptoms associated with exercise. Studies establishing effectiveness included patients with NYHA Functional Class II-IV symptoms and etiologies of idiopathic or heritable PAH (58%), PAH associated with congenital systemic-to-pulmonary shunts (23%), or PAH associated with connective tissue diseases (19%). It may be administered as a continuous subcutaneous infusion or continuous intravenous infusion; however, because of the risks associated with chronic indwelling central venous catheters, including serious blood stream infections, continuous intravenous infusion should be reserved for patients who are intolerant of the subcutaneous route, or in whom these risks are considered warranted.
In patients with PAH requiring transition from Flolan® (epoprostenol sodium), Remodulin is indicated to diminish the rate of clinical deterioration. The risks and benefits of each drug should be carefully considered prior to transition.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION for Remodulin
- Chronic intravenous infusions of Remodulin are delivered using an indwelling central venous catheter. This route is associated with the risk of blood stream infections (BSI) and sepsis, which may be fatal. Therefore, continuous subcutaneous infusion is the preferred mode of administration.
- Remodulin should be used only by clinicians experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of PAH.
- Remodulin is a potent pulmonary and systemic vasodilator. It lowers blood pressure, which may be further lowered by other drugs that also reduce blood pressure.
- Remodulin inhibits platelet aggregation and therefore, may increase the risk of bleeding, particularly in patients on anticoagulants.
- Remodulin dosage adjustment may be necessary if inhibitors or inducers of CYP2C8 are added or withdrawn.
- Initiation of Remodulin must be performed in a setting with adequate personnel and equipment for physiological monitoring and emergency care.
- Therapy with Remodulin may be used for prolonged periods, and the patient’s ability to administer Remodulin and care for an infusion system should be carefully considered.
- Remodulin dosage should be increased for lack of improvement in, or worsening of, symptoms and it should be decreased for excessive pharmacologic effects or for unacceptable infusion site symptoms.
- Abrupt withdrawal or sudden large reductions in dosage of Remodulin may result in worsening of PAH symptoms and should be avoided.
- Caution should be used in patients with hepatic or renal insufficiency.
- The most common side effects of Remodulin included those related to the method of infusion. For subcutaneous infusion, infusion site pain and infusion site reaction (redness and swelling) occurred in the majority of patients. These symptoms were often severe and could lead to treatment with narcotics or discontinuation of Remodulin. For intravenous infusion, line infections, sepsis, arm swelling, tingling sensations, bruising, and pain were most common. General side effects (>5% more than placebo) were diarrhea, jaw pain, vasodilatation and edema.
For additional information about Remodulin, please see the Full Prescribing information, visit http://www.remodulin.com, or call 1-877-864-8437.
