Macitentan

Generic name: macitentan [ MA-si-TEN-tan ]
Brand name: Opsumit
Dosage form: oral tablet (10 mg)
Drug class:Agents for pulmonary hypertension

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Oct 28, 2021. Written by Cerner Multum.

What is macitentan?

Macitentan lowers blood pressure in your lungs, helping your heart pump blood more efficiently.

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

Macitentan is available to women only under a special program from a certified pharmacy. You must be registered in the program and understand the risks and benefits of taking this medication.

Macitentan may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Warnings

Do not use macitentan if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant. Use highly effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while using macitentan and for at least 30 days after your treatment ends.

You will need to take a pregnancy test before, during, and after treatment with macitentan.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use macitentan if you are allergic to it.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• liver disease;

• heart disease; or

• anemia (low red blood cells).

This medicine can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects. Do not use macitentan if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you miss a menstrual period or think you may have become pregnant during treatment.

You will need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment. You will be re-tested every month during your treatment, and 1 month after you stop taking this medicine.

Even if you are not planning a pregnancy, you are considered able to become pregnant if:

• you have entered puberty (even if you have not yet started having periods);

• you have never had a hysterectomy or had your ovaries removed; or

• you have not gone through menopause (you have never gone 12 months in a row without a menstrual period).

While taking macitentan and for 30 days after your last dose, you must use a highly effective form of birth control, or two methods together.

• A tubal ligation alone is an effective birth control method.

• An intrauterine device (IUD) or birth control implant alone are also effective birth control methods.

• If you use birth control pills, injections, skin patches, or vaginal ri...