Prescribing Information
WARNING: EMBRYO-FETAL TOXICITY
Adempas is contraindicated for use during pregnancy because it may cause fetal harm based on animal data.
Exclude pregnancy prior to the start of treatment with Adempas. Advise use of effective contraception prior to initiation of treatment, during treatment, and for one month after treatment with Adempas.
If pregnancy is detected, discontinue Adempas as soon as possible.
- Use of Adempas is contraindicated in patients who are pregnant.
- Co-administration of Adempas with nitrates or nitric oxide donors (such as amyl nitrite) in any form is contraindicated.
- Concomitant administration of Adempas with specific phosphodiesterase (PDE)-5 inhibitors (such as sildenafil, tadalafil, or vardenafil) or nonspecific PDE inhibitors (such as dipyridamole or theophylline) is contraindicated. Do not administer within 24 hours of sildenafil. Do not administer 24 hours before or within 48 hours after tadalafil.
- Adempas is contraindicated in patients with concomitant use of other soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators.
- Adempas in contraindicated in patients with Pulmonary Hypertension associated with Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias (PH-IIP).
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity. Based on data from animal reproduction studies, Adempas may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant patient and is contraindicated during pregnancy. The available human data for riociguat do not establish the presence or absence of major birth defects related to the use of Adempas. Counsel patients who can become pregnant on the potential risk to a fetus. Exclude pregnancy prior to initiation of treatment with Adempas. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception prior to initiation of treatment, during treatment with Adempas and for at least one month after the last dose. When pregnancy is detected, discontinue Adempas as soon as possible.
Hypotension. Adempas reduces blood pressure. Consider the potential for symptomatic hypotension or ischemia in patients with hypovolemia, severe left ventricular outflow obstruction, resting hypotension, autonomic dysfunction, or concomitant treatment with antihypertensives or strong CYP and P-gp/BCRP inhibitors. Consider a dose reduction if patient develops signs or symptoms of hypotension.
Bleeding. In the placebo-controlled clinical trials, serious bleeding occurred in 2.4% of patients taking Adempas compared to 0% of placebo patients. Serious hemoptysis occurred in 5 (1%) patients taking Adempas compared to 0 placebo patients, including one event with fatal outcome. Serious hemorrhagic events also included 2 patients with vaginal hemorrhage, 2 with catheter-site hemorrhage, and 1 each with subdural hematoma, hematemesis, and intra-abdominal hemorrhage.
Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease. Pulmonary vasodilators may significantly worsen the cardiovascular status of patients with pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD). Therefore, administration of Adempas to such patients is not recommended. Should signs of pulmonary edema occur, the possibility of associated PVOD should be considered and if confirmed, discontinue treatment with Adempas.
The most common adverse reactions occurring more frequently (≥3%) on Adempas than placebo were headache (27% vs 18%), dyspepsia/gastritis (21% vs 8%), dizziness (20% vs 13%), nausea (14% vs 11%), diarrhea (12% vs 8%), hypotension (10% vs 4%), vomiting (10% vs 7%), anemia (7% vs 2%), gastroesophageal reflux disease (5% vs 2%), and constipation (5% vs 1%).
Other events that were seen more frequently in Adempas compared to placebo and potentially related to treatment were palpitations, nasal congestion, epistaxis, dysphagia, abdominal distension, and peripheral edema.
- Adempas (riociguat) is indicated for the treatment of adults with persistent/recurrent chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) (WHO Group 4) after surgical treatment or inoperable CTEPH to improve exercise capacity and WHO functional class.
- Adempas is indicated for the treatment of adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (WHO Group 1) to improve exercise capacity, improve WHO functional class and to delay clinical worsening.*
Efficacy was shown in patients on Adempas monotherapy or in combination with endothelin receptor antagonists or prostanoids. Studies establishing effectiveness included predominantly patients with WHO functional class II–III and etiologies of idiopathic or heritable PAH (61%) or PAH associated with connective tissue diseases (25%).
*Time to clinical worsening was a combined endpoint defined as death (all-cause mortality), heart/lung transplantation, atrial septostomy, hospitalization due to persistent worsening of pulmonary hypertension, start of new PAH-specific treatment, persistent decrease in 6MWD, and persistent worsening of WHO functional class.
For important risk and use information, please see the full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning.
