Treprostinil Injection
Treprostinil injection is used to treat certain kinds of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH; high blood pressure in the vessels carrying blood to the lungs, causing shortness of breath, dizziness, and tiredness). Treprostinil injection is also used to treat PAH when another medication (epoprostenol) did not help or could not be tolerated. Treprostinil may improve the ability to exercise and slow the worsening of symptoms in patients with PAH. Treprostinil is in a class of medications called vasodilators and platelet-aggregation inhibitors. It works by relaxing the blood vessels, including those in the lungs, and improving blood flow.
🔔 How should this medicine be used?
Treprostinil injection comes as a solution (liquid) to be continuously injected subcutaneously (under the skin). Treprostinil injection is usually used with an external subcutaneous infusion pump for continuous delivery of the medication. Treprostinil injection may also be given as a continuous intravenous (into a vein) infusion. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use treprostinil injection exactly as directed. Do not inject more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Before you use treprostinil injection for the first time, your doctor or nurse will show you how to use the external infusion pump to receive your medication. Read the written instructions that come with the pump and the medication. Be sure that you understand these directions. Ask your healthcare provider if you have any questions about how to infuse treprostinil injection.
Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of treprostinil and gradually increase your dose, not more than once every week. Your doctor may need to slow down your infusion or interrupt your treatment if you experience certain side effects. It is important for you to tell your doctor how you are feeling during your treatment with treprostinil injection.
Treprostinil may control the symptoms of PAH but does not cure it. Do not stop using treprostinil injection without talking to your doctor. If you suddenly stop using treprostinil, your symptoms may get worse. Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually.
Treprostinil injection is not available in pharmacies. You can only get treprostinil from a specialty pharmacy. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about receiving your medication.
Inflated pharmaceutical prices are another huge factor in the steep cost of healthcare. Americans spend an average of $858 per person on prescription drugs, according to Vox. That’s about twice as much as people in Australia spend on prescriptions. It’s three times the amount paid by people in The Netherlands.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient.
