Understanding Preparation of Veletri
You will first get Veletri in the hospital setting and will be trained on how to prepare your medication. Ask your doctor if you have more questions or see the step-by-step guide for complete instructions if you need more help.
Typically, vials and cassettes of mixed epoprostenol are kept chilled to prevent the drug from becoming less effective. This often requires that patients using 24-hour cassettes wear portable ice packs to keep their medication cassettes chilled. One of the things that makes Veletri different from other forms of epoprostenol is that it gives you the option of up to once-weekly preparation and when prepared, stored and used as directed, Veletri does not require ice packs. Plus, you don't need special mixing liquids (diluents) to prepare your medicine.
Veletri comes in a powder in small, sterile vials. Before Veletri can be used, it first must be reconstituted (dissolved) and then further diluted with a sterile solution called a diluent. The diluents include easy-to-find Sterile Water for Injection, USP, or Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection, USP. Veletri should not be mixed with any other solutions or medications before or during administration.1
Veletri offers some unique preparation, storage, and administration options. Your doctor will choose the one that is right for you.
Though everyone is different, many people start Veletri I.V. therapy by preparing and using their medicine immediately, or even twice a day for some patients. As their doctor increases their dose of medicine, they may be given the option of preparing their medicine every other day. At higher doses, there is even the option of preparing up to 7 days' worth of medicine in advance. In all cases, your healthcare provider will work closely with you to find the best dose, and give you specific directions for preparing, storing, and using your medicine. Remember: never change the way you prepare or store Veletri unless instructed to do so by your healthcare provider.
*What is Veletri?
Veletri is a prescription medicine that is given intravenously (in a vein). It is used to treat adults with certain kinds of severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (WHO Group 1), a condition in which blood pressure is too high in the blood vessels between the heart and the lungs. Veletri may improve your ability to exercise as measured by how far you can walk in 6 minutes(6-minute walk test).
Studies showing Veletri is effective included mainly patients with NYHA Functional Class III-IV PAH. In these patients, PAH was caused by unidentified or hereditary factors or connective tissue disease.
Who should not take Veletri?
Veletri should not be used if you have heart failure due to severe left heart disease, if you develop fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema) when starting therapy, or if you are allergic to epoprostenol.
Some medications may interact with Veletri. Please talk to your doctor about all of your medications.
What is the most important information I should know about Veletri?
It is important to use Veletri as directed by your doctor. Veletri should be used only with Sterile Water for Injection, USP, or Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection, USP. Do not mix Veletri with other intravenous medications. Do not freeze Veletri or expose to direct sunlight.
When you take epoprostenol for the first time, you must be in a setting (hospital or clinic) where you can be monitored for any serious side effects or in case of emergency. Your blood pressure and heart rate should also be monitored with any dose changes. If you are taking Veletri, your doctor may prescribe another kind of medicine used to prevent blood clots. Use of these types of medicines may increase the risk of bleeding.
Sudden and dramatic changes in dose may lead to unstable blood pressure, a return of pulmonary hypertension symptoms, or fatal low blood pressure (hypotension). Do not stop using Veletri without first talking to your doctor. To reduce the risk of infection in the bloodstream, it is important to know how to properly care for the catheter and infusion pump.
What are the possible side effects of Veletri?
The most commonly reported side effects during clinical trials include flushing, jaw pain, headache, low blood pressure, fast heartbeat, nausea, vomiting, flu-like symptoms, anxiety/nervousness, and diarrhea.
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 Veletri. 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 accompanying full prescribing information.
1. Veletri (epoprostenol for injection) Full Prescribing Information. Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc. March 2011.
