Letairis

Generic Name: ambrisentan (Oral route)

am-bri-SEN-tan

Oral route(Tablet)

Ambrisentan may cause serious birth defects. Pregnancy must be excluded before the treatment initiation, and prevented during treatment and for 1 month after treatment discontinuation with 2 reliable methods of contraception. If the patient has had a tubal sterilization or chooses to use a Copper T 380A intrauterine device or LNg 20 intrauterine system, no additional contraception is needed. Monthly pregnancy tests are recommended. Letairis(R) is only available through a restricted distribution program, called the LETAIRIS Education and Access Program (LEAP), by calling 1-866-664-LEAP (5327). Only prescribers and pharmacies registered with LEAP may prescribe and distribute ambrisentan, and ambrisentan may be dispensed only to patients who are enrolled in and meet all conditions of LEAP .

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Letairis

Available Dosage Forms:

• Tablet

Therapeutic Class: Antihypertensive

Pharmacologic Class: Endothelin Receptor Antagonist

Uses For Letairis

Ambrisentan is used to treat the symptoms of pulmonary hypertension, which is high blood pressure in the main artery that carries blood from the right side of the heart (the ventricle) to the lungs. When the small blood vessels in the lungs become more resistant to blood flow, the right ventricle must work harder to pump enough blood through the lungs. Ambrisentan works by relaxing these blood vessels and increasing the supply of blood to the lungs, which reduces the workload of the heart.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription and through a special restricted distribution program called the Letairis Education and Access Program (LEAP).

Before Using Letairis

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of ambrisentan in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of ambrisentan in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have peripheral edema than younger patients, which may require caution in patients receiving ambrisentan.

Pregnancy

	Pregnancy Category	Explanation
All Trimesters	X	Studies in animals or pregnant women have demonstrated positive evidence of fetal abnormalities. This drug should not be used in women who are or may become pregnant because the risk clearly outweighs any possible benefit.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Cyclosporine

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Anemia (low red blood cells) or


• Edema (swelling in the hands, lower legs, or feet) or


• Heart failure or


• Liver disease, mild—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

• Liver disease, moderate or severe—Should not be used in patients with this condition.

Proper Use of Letairis

Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. Also, do not stop taking this medicine without checking with your doctor first.

It is very important that you understand the rules of the LEAP® program. Read the patient Medication Guide. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. You might be asked to sign a form to show that you understand the information.

You may take this medicine with or without food.

Swallow the tablet whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  
  • For pulmonary hypertension:
    
    • Adults—At first, 5 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may increase your dose to 10 mg once a day, if needed.
    
    
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    
    
  
  

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions While Using Letairis

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can cause very serious birth defects. Use two forms of effective birth control to keep from getting pregnant while you are using this medicine (even if the medicine is temporarily stopped), and for at least one month after you stop taking the medicine. The most effective forms of birth control are hormone birth control pills, patches, shots, vaginal rings, or implants, an IUD, or a vasectomy (for men). One of these forms of birth control should be combined with a condom, a diaphragm, or a cervical cap. If a woman has had a tubal ligation, she does not need to use a second form of birth control. If you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor right away.

If you are a woman who can get pregnant, you must have a negative pregnancy test before you will be allowed to take this medicine. You will also be required to have a pregnancy test every month during your treatment. If you miss a period while you are using this medicine, tell your doctor right away.

This medicine may cause fluid retention (edema) in some patients. Check with your doctor right away if you are gaining weight rapidly; have swelling in your hands, ankles, feet, or all over the body; or if you have trouble breathing while you are using this medicine.

Stop using this medicine and call your doctor right away if you start to have nausea, vomiting, fever, dark-colored urine or pale stools, a loss of appetite, pain in your upper stomach, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be signs of liver injury.

This medicine may decrease the amount of sperm men make and affect their ability to have children. If you plan to have children, talk with your doctor before using this medicine.

A lung condition called pulmonary edema may occur with this medicine. Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away if you have chest pain; difficult, fast, or noisy breathing, sometimes with wheezing; blue lips and fingernails; pale skin; increased sweating; coughing that sometimes produces a pink frothy sputum; or shortness of breath.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Letairis Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

• Bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet


• rapid weight gain


• tingling of the hands or feet


• unusual weight gain or loss

Less common

• Cough


• fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse


• fever


• headache


• muscle aches


• pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones


• shortness of breath or troubled breathing


• sore throat


• stuffy or runny nose


• tightness of the chest or wheezing


• unusual tiredness or weakness

Incidence not known

• Chest pain


• decrease in amount of urine


• dilated neck veins


• extreme fatigue


• irregular breathing


• noisy, rattling breathing


• pale skin


• troubled breathing at rest


• troubled breathing with exertion

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

• Blurred vision


• confusion


• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position


• sweating

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common

• Difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)


• feeling of warmth


• redness of the face, neck, arms and occasionally, upper chest


• stomach pain

Incidence not known

• Large, hive-like swelling on face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs


• nausea


• rash


• vomiting

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Letairis side effects (in more detail)

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More Letairis resources

• Letairis Side Effects (in more detail)
• Letairis Dosage
• Letairis Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Letairis Drug Interactions
• Letairis Support Group
• 2 Reviews for Letairis - Add your own review/rating

• Letairis Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Letairis Consumer Overview


• Letairis Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Letairis MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Ambrisentan Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)

Compare Letairis with other medications

• Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension