Dosage and Administration

Patients should be trained in proper administration techniques, including dosing frequency, ampule dispensing, the I-neb Adaptive Aerosol Delivery (AAD) System or the Prodose AAD System operation, and equipment cleaning.

Ventavis is available in 3 dosing options
2.5 mcg with 10 mcg/mL — Red*
5.0 mcg with 10 mcg/mL — Purple*
5.0 mcg with 20 mcg/mL — Gold*
  • I-neb training and support are available from the specialty pharmacy in home or at the office
  • 6 to 9 inhalations daily during waking hours
    • No more than once every 2 hours
  • In the pivotal trial 90% of patients did not take treatments at night1
  • Initial dose: 2.5 mcg (10mcg/mL)
    • If well tolerated, increase to 5 mcg (10 mcg/mL) and maintain; otherwise, reduce to 2.5 mcg
    • For patients maintained at 5 mcg who have repeatedly experienced extended treatment times which could result in incomplete dosing (standard treatment time is 4 to 10 minutes), consider transitioning to 20 mcg/mL
  • Vital signs must be monitored while initiating Ventavis
  • Ventavis is an inhaled therapy with no catheter-related issues
  • Discard any solution remaining in the medication chamber after each inhalation session
  • Do not mix Ventavis with other medications

Breath-actuated precision dosing

The I-neb generates micro-aerosol and analyzes breathing patterns, delivering drug during only the first 80% of inhalation to maximize lung deposition.2,22

Based on in-vitro study
Adapted from Nikander22

The I-neb AAD System was designed to analyze breathing patterns. It determines the starting point for aerosol delivery by measuring the pressure changes in airflow,2 and then sets the duration of each pulse by analyzing the particular breathing pattern.22 The I-neb continually adapts aerosol delivery to changes in breathing patterns.2

Tidal volume and inspiration/expiration ratios of conventional nebulizers and the I-neb AAD2

Adapted from Denyer2

Faster treatments for convenience†

Higher 20 mcg/mL concentration shortens treatment times for appropriate patients†‡

  • Higher concentration
    • 50% reduction in inhaled volume
    • 62% mean reduction in delivery time (5 mcg dose) based on an in vitro study18
  • Shorter treatment times†
  • Helps maintain patient compliance
  • Treatment convenience

*Different colored chambers and dosing discs are NOT interchangeable. Patients should not use the 20 mcg/mL ampule with the purple- or red-latched medication chambers.

†The 20 mcg/mL concentration is intended for patients who are maintained at the 5 mcg dose and who have repeatedly experienced extended treatment times which could result in incomplete dosing. Ventavis 10 mcg/mL ampules are still available. Ventavis should be taken 6 to 9 times daily, at least 2 hours apart.1

‡Based on an in vitro study with a manually generated 28.3-L/min, 15-sec inhalation cycle breathing pattern.18

Read about:

Respironics and I-neb Adaptive Aerosol Delivery (AAD) are trademarks of or belonging to Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.

The Ventavis 20 mcg/mL concentration order form is intended for patients who are maintained at the 5 mcg dose and who have repeatedly experienced extended treatment times which could result in incomplete dosing. Ventavis 10 mcg/mL ampules are still available. Ventavis should be taken 6 to 9 times daily, at least 2 hours apart.

For more information about Ventavis, please call 1-866-ACTELION (1-866-228-3546).

Indication and Important Safety Information

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Indication:

Ventavis is indicated for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (WHO Group 1) to improve a composite endpoint consisting of exercise tolerance, symptoms (NYHA Class), and lack of deterioration. Studies establishing effectiveness included predominantly patients with NYHA Functional Class III-IV symptoms and etiologies of idiopathic or heritable PAH (65%) or PAH associated with connective tissue disease (23%).

Important Safety Information

  • Hypotension leading to syncope has been observed; Ventavis should therefore not be initiated in patients with systolic blood pressure less than 85 mmHg.
  • Stop Ventavis immediately if signs of pulmonary edema occur; this may be a sign of pulmonary venous hypertension.
  • Ventavis inhalation may cause bronchospasm and patients with a history of hyperreactive airway disease may be more sensitive.
  • Serious adverse events reported at a rate of less than 3% included congestive heart failure, chest pain, supraventricular tachycardia, dyspnea, peripheral edema, and kidney failure. Vital signs should be monitored while initiating Ventavis.
  • In clinical studies, the most common adverse events occurring more often (≥6%) in Ventavis-treated patients than in patients taking placebo included vasodilation (flushing) (27% vs 9%), cough (39% vs 26%), headache (30% vs 20%), trismus (12% vs 3%), and insomnia (8% vs 2%).
  • Ventavis has the potential to increase the hypotensive effect of vasodilators and antihypertensive agents.
  • Ventavis also has the potential to increase risk of bleeding, particularly in patients maintained on anticoagulants.

Please see full Prescribing Information.