RIOCIGUAT belongs to the class of medications called soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators. It is also used to treat adults with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH), alone or in combination with other medications. Pulmonary hypertension is a type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in your lungs and the right side of your heart.
RIOCIGUAT contains ‘Riociguat’. It works by relaxing the blood vessels in the lungs. This leads to the relaxation or widening of those vessels. Relaxing and widening the blood vessels in the lungs decreases the pulmonary blood pressure to the heart and improves its function. This reduces blood pressure in the lungs, which generally results in the ability to be more active.
RIOCIGUAT is taken dose and duration as advised by the doctor. RIOCIGUAT may be prescribed alone or in combination with other blood pressure-lowering medicines depending upon your blood pressure levels. In some cases, RIOCIGUAT can cause side effects like headache, diarrhoea, decreased blood pressure, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, anaemia (low number of red blood cells), gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, and constipation. These side effects are not familiar to everyone and vary individually. If you notice any side effects that are not manageable, please consult your doctor.
Inform your doctor if you have had an allergic reaction to RIOCIGUAT or any ingredients in it. Let your doctor know if you have any liver disease, kidney disease, heart failure, heart valve problem or history of a heart attack. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should also consult their doctor for advice before taking this medicine. You must closely monitor your blood pressure if you have ever had a stroke or heart attack or currently taking other blood pressure-lowering pills. It is advised to continue taking this drug and not stop taking it suddenly without consulting your doctor. Keep your doctor informed about your health condition and all the medicines you take before taking RIOCIGUAT to rule out any side effects.
Pulmonary hypertension
RIOCIGUAT belongs to the class of medications called soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators. Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cyclic GMP) is a substance produced in the lungs and other parts of the body by an enzyme called guanylate cyclase in response to nitric oxide. Cyclic GMP causes the blood vessels (arteries) to relax and widen. Riociguat increases guanylate cyclase activity in two ways so that more cyclic GMP is available for the blood vessels inside the lungs. This leads to relaxation or widening of those vessels. Relaxing and widening the blood vessels in the lungs decreases the pulmonary blood pressure to the heart and improves its function. This reduces blood pressure in the lungs, which generally results in the ability to be more active.
Inform your doctor if you have had an allergic reaction to RIOCIGUAT or any ingredients in it. Let your doctor know if you have any liver disease, kidney disease, heart failure, heart valve problem or history of a heart attack. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should also consult their doctor for advice before taking this medicine. You must closely monitor your blood pressure if you have ever had a stroke, or heart attack or currently taking other blood pressure-lowering pills. Keep your doctor informed about your health condition and all the medicines you take before taking RIOCIGUAT to rule out any side effects. Complete the course strictly as suggested by the doctor, even if you feel better, to avoid disease recurrence. Do not drive or operate machinery since RIOCIGUAT may cause side effects like dizziness and weakness, affecting your ability to concentrate and drive. Avoid consumption of alcohol with RIOCIGUAT as it may increase the risk of low blood pressure. RIOCIGUAT is not recommended in patients younger than 18 years of age.
Drug-Drug Interactions: RIOCIGUAT may interact with diuretic medicines (e.g. spironolactone, mannitol) and antiarrhythmic medicines (e.g. sotalol). The relevance of a particular drug interaction varies from person to person. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any medication, and also inform your doctor about all your medical conditions and ongoing therapies before prescribing this medication. Considering these, your doctor may check the drug interactions before prescribing this medication.
Drug-Food Interactions: Alcohol may increase the side effects of RIOCIGUAT. Hence, it is advised to limit the intake of alcohol while using RIOCIGUAT.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Brief your doctor if you have a medical history of hypotension, liver impairment, and renal impairment.
It is advised to limit alcohol intake since alcohol consumption with RIOCIGUAT may increase the risk of low blood pressure and cause adverse effects, such as dizziness, fainting, light-headedness or headache.
Consult your doctor, and there is no substantial research yet on the use of RIOCIGUAT in pregnant women.
Consult your doctor, and there is no substantial research yet on the use of RIOCIGUAT in breastfeeding/nursing mothers.
It is not known whether RIOCIGUAT alters the ability to drive. Do not drive or operate machinery if you experience any symptoms that affect your ability to concentrate and react. Seek medical attention if the symptoms persist longer.
Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns regarding using RIOCIGUAT in patients with liver impairment. Your doctor will prescribe only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns regarding using RIOCIGUAT in patients with kidney impairment. Your doctor will prescribe only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
There is limited information available on the use of RIOCIGUAT in children. Please consult your doctor.
Pulmonary hypertension is a type of high blood pressure that affects arteries in the lungs and the heart. Pulmonary hypertension affects arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart.