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Inhaled Ventavis® (iloprost) Inhalation Solution
     Understanding Your Role
PAH Pathways - Actelion Services & Support

Understanding your role

PAH Pathways and your specialty pharmacy can help, but you do a lot, too

START

  Review the information in your welcome folder and starter kit:

When your doctor prescribes Ventavis, you will receive a welcome folder in the mail from PAH Pathways, and the specialty pharmacy will provide you with a starter kit. Read the materials that come with these two pieces. Watch the DVDs, and share them with your caregivers. This information will help you know what to expect while getting started on and taking Ventavis.

 
  Stay in contact:

Return phone calls from PAH Pathways and your specialty pharmacy. They are working to support you and make certain you receive your medicine.

 
  Schedule your training:

When contacted by your specialty pharmacy, schedule a meeting with the nurse educator to start your treatment. A nurse will come to your home or doctor's office to get you started on Ventavis.

 

STAY

Set a goal:

 
  • Setting a goal can help keep you motivated to stay on Ventavis—but it’s important to set realistic expectations. Some people may want to be able to walk around the block. Others may want to attend their child’s soccer match.
  • Choose something that’s meaningful and realistically obtainable in your life.
  • Continue to take Ventavis as directed by your doctor: Understand that treatment with Ventavis is different than taking a pill. Do your best to stay with your treatments and make Ventavis a part of your life.
  • Keep in close contact with your healthcare support team.
  • Call PAH Pathways with your questions about Ventavis or your I-neb AAD.

STRIVE

  • Track your progress and remind yourself what your goal is daily.
  • Remember that in chronic diseases like PAH*, not getting worse is considered an important treatment goal.
  • Share your successes with your friends and loved ones.

Read about:


 

*What is Ventavis?

Ventavis is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with certain kinds of severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a condition in which blood pressure is too high in the blood vessels between the heart and the lungs. Ventavis may improve your ability to exercise and your symptoms for a short time by lowering your blood pressure and opening up the blood vessels in your lungs.

  • In the key clinical study, Ventavis showed clinical improvement as defined by 3 specific measurements: ability to exercise as measured by the 6-minute walk test, symptoms (NYHA Functional Class), and decrease in the worsening of PAH symptoms.
  • Ventavis is a medication you breathe in through a special device called the I-neb Adaptive Aerosol Delivery (AAD) System.

The study showing Ventavis is effective included mainly patients with NYHA Functional Class III-IV PAH. In these patients, PAH was caused by unidentified or hereditary factors (65%) or connective tissue diseases (23%).

Ventavis has not been studied in children younger than 18 years old.

What is the most important information I should know about Ventavis?

Ventavis may not be right for you. Before taking Ventavis, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you have liver or kidney problems; are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant; or are breast-feeding. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take medicines used to treat high blood pressure or heart problems or medicines that lessen blood clotting (warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven). Ventavis and other medicines may affect each other, causing side effects.

What are the possible side effects of Ventavis?

  • Ventavis may cause side effects, including feeling dizzy, lightheaded, and faint. If you have any of these side effects, you should stand up slowly when you get out of chairs or bed. Tell your doctor if your fainting gets worse during treatment with Ventavis. Your doctor may need to change your dose or treatment.
  • Do not drive a car or operate any tools or machines if dizziness or fainting from low blood pressure is a problem for you.
  • You may have trouble breathing after taking Ventavis, because it may cause the muscles around your airway to tighten (bronchospasm). Get emergency help right away if you have trouble breathing.
  • The most common side effects of Ventavis include red face (flushing), increased cough, low blood pressure, headaches, nausea, spasm of your jaw muscles that makes it hard to open your mouth, and fainting.

Talk to your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of Ventavis. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

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

Please see full Prescribing Information

 
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