Iloprost Sodium, Inhalation

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antihypertensive

Generic and brand names: iloprost, inhalation; Ventavis

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is inhaled through a special nebulizer. It is used to treat pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs).

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• bleeding or blood clotting problems
• heart disease
• low blood pressure
• kidney or liver disease
• lung disease.

Females of childbearing age: Talk with your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

The dose of medicine you take may be increased gradually by your healthcare provider. Do not stop using this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval. You will probably need this medicine for a long time (maybe years).

Do not let this medicine come in contact with your skin or eyes. If it does, rinse the skin or your eyes right away with water.

Do not mix this medicine with any other medicine for inhalation.

Be sure you know how and when to have nebulizer treatments and how much medicine to use. Follow these steps when you use the nebulizer:

1. Insert the medicine into the nebulizer, following the directions for that type of system.
2. If you are using a mouthpiece, put the mouthpiece in your mouth between your teeth and close your lips around it. If you are using a mask, place the mask over your nose and mouth, making it sure it fits snugly.
3. Hold the nebulizer in an upright position. This prevents spilling and promotes nebulization.
4. Gently breathe out.
5. If you are using equipment with a finger valve, start the mist by covering the hole in the finger valve with a finger.
   • As the mist starts, breathe in slowly and deeply over 3 to 5 seconds. Keep your finger over the valve hole.
   • At the end of a deep breath, uncover the finger valve hole to stop the mist.
   • Hold your breath for 5 to 10 seconds, or as long as is comfortable. This allows the medicine time to build up in the airway.
   • Start breathing normally.
6. If you are not using a finger valve, the nebulizer will mist constantly. Breathe in slowly and deeply through the mouthpiece or mask. Exhale normally through your nose.
7. Tap the side of the nebulizer occasionally to help the solution drop to where it can be misted.
8. Continue these steps until the nebulizer starts sputtering or the medicine is gone.

If you do not understand how you should prepare or use this medicine, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist to explain.

What should I watch out for?

You will need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

This medicine lowers blood pressure. Taking other blood pressure medicines along with this one may lower your blood pressure too much. Be sure you tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you take.

You may feel dizzy or faint when you get up quickly after sitting or lying down. Getting up slowly may help. If the fainting gets worse, talk with your healthcare provider.

Saunas, hot baths, or sunbathing may cause blood vessels to dilate and lower your blood pressure too far. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

Do not allow other people to be exposed to this medicine while you are breathing it, especially babies and pregnant women.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Irregular or rapid heartbeat, headache, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness, chest pain, redness of face or neck, rash, swelling, increased coughing, fainting.

Other: Chills, confusion, fever, jaw pain, nervousness, muscle or bone pain.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• ACE inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), quinapril (Accupril), and ramipril (Altace)
• alpha blockers such as prazosin (Minipress) and doxazosin (Cardura)
• antiplatelet medicines such as aspirin and other salicylates, ticlopidine (Ticlid), dipyridamole (Persantine), and clopidogrel (Plavix)
• beta blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), acebutolol (Sectral), betaxolol (Kerlone), carteolol, bisoprolol (Zebeta), pindolol, metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), timolol, sotalol (Betapace), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), and carvedilol (Coreg)
• blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin), heparin, dalteparin (Fragmin), and enoxaparin sodium (Lovenox)
• diuretics (water pills) such as hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide, Oretic), furosemide (Lasix), chlorothiazide (Diuril), bumetanide (Bumex), torsemide (Demadex), spironolactone (Aldactone), triamterene (Dyrenium), and amiloride (Midamor)
• vasodilators such as hydralazine (Apresoline), nitroglycerin, minoxidil (Loniten), isoxsuprine (Vasodilan), nesiritide (Natrecor), and isosorbide (Isordil, Sorbitrate, Imdur, Monoket, ISMO).

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store unopened ampules of this medicine at room temperature. Keep the containers tightly closed. Protect from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.