Epoprostenol Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 4, 2024.

Applies to epoprostenol: intravenous powder for solution.

Serious side effects of epoprostenol

Along with its needed effects, epoprostenol 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 while taking epoprostenol:

More common

• arm, back, or jaw pain
• bladder pain
• bleeding gums
• bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
• bloody or cloudy urine
• blurred vision
• changes in skin color
• chest pain, discomfort, tightness or heaviness
• chills
• cold hands and feet
• confusion
• constipation
• cough or hoarseness
• coughing up blood
• decreased urine
• depression
• diarrhea
• difficult, burning, or painful urination
• difficulty with breathing or swallowing
• dilated neck veins
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• dry mouth
• fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
• feeling of warmth
• fever
• headache
• incoherent speech
• increased menstrual flow or vaginal bleeding
• increased thirst
• increased urination
• local infection at the catheter site
• loss of appetite
• metallic taste
• muscle pain, cramps, or weakness
• nausea or vomiting
• nosebleeds
• numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips
• pain at the injection site
• pain, redness, or swelling in the arm or leg
• paleness of the skin
• prolonged bleeding from cuts
• rapid weight gain
• red or black, tarry stools
• redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
• seizures
• stomach pain
• sweating
• swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• weight gain or loss

Less common

• altered or abnormal touch sensation or sensitivity
• blue lips and fingernails
• burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
• coughing that sometimes produces a pink frothy sputum
• difficult, fast, or noisy breathing
• inability to speak
• pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck
• slurred speech
• temporary blindness
• weakness in the arm or leg on one side of the body, sudden and severe
• weakness or heaviness of the legs

Incidence not known

• feeling of fullness
• pinpoint red spots on the skin
• sensitivity to heat
• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
• swollen glands
• trouble sleeping
• trouble breathing

Other side effects of epoprostenol

Some side effects of epoprostenol 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:

More common

• change in vision
• difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)
• difficulty with moving
• heartburn
• hives or welts, itching
• joint pain
• lack or loss of strength
• loss of interest or pleasure
• muscle pains or stiffness
• redness of the skin
• shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
• skin rash, encrusted, scaly and oozing
• sores on the skin
• swollen joints
• trembling or shaking of the hands or feet
• trouble concentrating

Less common

• acid or sour stomach
• belching
• excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines
• indigestion
• leg cramps
• passing gas
• sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
• stomach discomfort or upset

For healthcare professionals

Applies to epoprostenol: intravenous powder for injection.

General

The most frequently reported side effects during initiation and dose escalation were nausea, vomiting, headache, hypotension, flushing, chest pain, anxiety, dizziness, bradycardia, dyspnea, abdominal pain, musculoskeletal pain, and tachycardia.

The most frequently reported side effects during chronic dosing were jaw pain, headache, flushing, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, flu-like symptoms, and anxiety/nervousness.^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Very common (10% or more): Palpitation (63%), flushing (up to 58%), cyanosis (up to 54%), tachycardia (up to 35%), pallor (up to 32%), hypotension (up to 27%), right heart failure (up to 25%), heart failure (23%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Bradycardia, myocardial infarction, shock, peripheral vascular disorder, vascular disorder
• Postmarketing reports: High output cardiac failure^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Dizziness (up to 83%), headache (up to 83%), tremor (21%), hyperkinesia (up to 21%), syncope (up to 13%), hypesthesia (up to 12%), paresthesia (up to 12%), hyperesthesia (12%)^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Nausea/vomiting (up to 67%), esophageal reflux/gastritis (61%), diarrhea (up to 50%), ascites (up to 23%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Abdominal pain, dyspepsia, abdominal colic
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dry mouth

Postmarketing: Hepatic failure^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Very common (10% or more): Pain/neck pain/arthralgia (up to 84%), nonspecific musculoskeletal pain (up to 84%), jaw pain (up to 75%), myalgia (44%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Back pain, leg cramp
• Frequency not reported: Collagen disease^[Ref]

Other

• Very common (10% or more): Weight decreased (45%), pain (up to 29%), chills/fever/sepsis/flu-like symptoms (25%), fever (21%), hemorrhage/ hemorrhage injection
• Common (1% to 10%): Asthenia, sepsis, septicemia, procedural complication
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Lassitude
• Frequency not reported: Fatigue, edema, catheter-related infection^[Ref]

site/ hemorrhage rectal (11%), chest pain (11%)

Hematologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Thrombocytopenia, bleeding
• Postmarketing reports: Anemia, hypersplenism, pancytopenia, splenomegaly^[Ref]

Endocrine

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Hyperthyroidism^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Very common (10% or more): Hypoxia (up to 55%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Dyspnea, pneumothorax, hemothorax, cough increased, epistaxis, pharyngitis, pleural effusion, sinusitis, pulmonary edema, respiratory disorder
• Postmarketing reports: Pulmonary embolism^[Ref]

Local

• Very common (10% or more): Infection (18%), pain (up to 13%)
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Erythema^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Very common (10% or more): Anxiety/nervousness (up to 21%), depression (up to 13%), agitation (11%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Insomnia
• Postmarketing reports: Acute confusional state^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Very common (10% or more): Skin ulcer (39%), eczema/rash/urticaria (up to 25%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Sweating, cellulitis^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Common (1% to 10%): Hematuria, urinary tract infection^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Postmarketing reports: Hepatic failure^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Very common (10% or more): Anorexia (up to 66%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Hyperkalemia, hypercalcemia
• Frequency not reported: Blood glucose increased^[Ref]

Further information

Epoprostenol side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

Medical Disclaimer