Letairis
Generic Name: ambrisentan (am bri SEN tan)
Brand Names: Letairis
What is Letairis?
Letairis prevents thickening of the blood vessels, especially those in the lungs and heart. Letairis also lowers blood pressure in your lungs, helping your heart pump blood more efficiently.
Letairis is used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). It improves your ability to exercise and prevents your condition from getting worse.
Letairis may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
Important information about Letairis
This medication can cause birth defects. Do not use if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you miss a menstrual period during treatment with Letairis. Use two reliable forms of birth control together while you are taking the medication and for at least 1 month after your treatment ends.You will probably be required to 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.
Letairis can cause severe liver problems. Symptoms include nausea, stomach pain, itching, 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 Letairis, and again each month during your treatment. Do not stop taking Letairis without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely.Letairis is available only under a special program called LEAP (Letairis Education and Access Program). You must be registered in the program and sign agreements to use birth control and undergo pregnancy and blood testing as required by the program. Read all program brochures and agreements carefully.
Before taking Letairis
Your should not use this medication if you are allergic to Letairis, or if you are pregnant.Before taking Letairis, tell your doctor if you have liver disease or if you have ever had liver problems caused by other medications.
Letairis can cause severe liver problems. Symptoms include nausea, stomach pain, itching, 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 Letairis, and again each month during your treatment. FDA pregnancy category X. This medication can cause birth defects. Do not use Letairis if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you miss a menstrual period during treatment with Letairis. Use two reliable forms of birth control while you are taking this medication and for at least 1 month after your treatment ends.You will probably be required to 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 Letairis 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.Letairis may lower a man's sperm count and could affect fertility (your ability to have children).
How should I take Letairis?
Take Letairis 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.
Letairis is available only under a special program called LEAP (Letairis Education and Access Program). You must be registered in the program and sign agreements to use birth control and undergo pregnancy and blood testing as required by the program. Read all program brochures and agreements carefully.
Letairis can be taken with or without food.
Letairis is usually taken twice a day, morning and evening.
Do not crush, chew, or split the tablet. Swallow the pill whole.To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your liver function may also need to be checked. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
Do not stop taking Letairis without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely. Store Letairis at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep this medicine in its original container.What happens if I miss a dose?
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.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include feeling like you might pass out.What should I avoid while using Letairis?
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while you are using Letairis.
Letairis side effects
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:-
feeling short of breath;
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fast or pounding heartbeats;
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swelling of the feet, ankles, or legs;
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nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, low fever, itching;
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dark urine, clay-colored stools; or
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jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Less serious side effects may include:
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headache;
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stomach pain, constipation;
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stuffy nose, sinus pain, sore throat; or
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warmth, redness, or tingly feeling under your skin.
This list is not complete and other side effects may occur. Talk to your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.
What other drugs will affect Letairis?
Before taking Letairis, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:-
cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf);
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omeprazole (Prilosec);
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rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate, Rimactane);
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antibiotics such as erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), or telithromycin (Ketek); or
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HIV medicines such as atazanavir (Reyataz), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), saquinavir (Invirase), and others.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Letairis. 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.
Where can I get more information?
- Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about Letairis.
- 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.
- Click here for more information on Letairis from the manufacturer.
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