Treprostinil
Generic name: treprostinil (oral) [ tre-PROS-ti-nil ]
Brand name: Orenitram
Dosage form: oral tablet, extended release (0.125 mg; 0.25 mg; 1 mg; 2.5 mg; 5 mg)
Drug class:Agents for pulmonary hypertension
What is treprostinil?
Treprostinil dilates (widens) the arteries and decreases 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). treprostinil improves your ability to exercise.
Treprostinil may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Warnings
You should not use treprostinil if you have severe liver disease.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use treprostinil if you are allergic to it, or if you have severe liver disease.
To make sure treprostinil is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
diverticulosis (an intestinal disorder); or
liver disease.
It is not known whether treprostinil will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using treprostinil.
It is not known whether treprostinil passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.
How should I take treprostinil?
Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow it whole. Do not use a broken pill.
Take with food.
Take your doses at regular intervals to keep a steady amount of the drug in your body at all times.
You should not reduce your dose or stop using treprostinil suddenly. Stopping suddenly may make your condition worse.
Tell your doctor if you need to stop taking treprostinil for any reason. You may need an alternate treatment during that time.
Treprostinil is made with a shell that is not absorbed or melted in the body. Part of the tablet shell may appear in your stool. This is a normal side effect of treprostinil and will not make the medication less effective.
Call your doctor if you have new or worsening PAH symptoms such as feeling short of breath (even with mild exertion), tiredness, chest pain, and pale skin.
Use treprostinil regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely. You will probably have to use this medicine for several months or years t...
