About epoprostenol
Prostacyclin vasodilator and platelet inhibitor
Used for
- Pulmonary arterial hypertension to improve exercise ability and symptoms
- Pulmonary arterial hypertension when other treatments are inadequate
Usual adult dose
Continuous IV infusion, started at 2 ng/kg/min and increased carefully according to response and tolerability; dose is individualized.
Usual dose in children
Continuous IV infusion, commonly started at 2 ng/kg/min and carefully adjusted by specialists; dose is individualized.
Common side effects
- Headache, jaw pain, flushing, nausea, or diarrhea
- Low blood pressure, dizziness, or fast heartbeat
- Bleeding or increased bruising
- Infusion-site complications or bloodstream infection
Important warnings
- Must be given by continuous infusion; sudden interruption can cause dangerous rebound pulmonary hypertension.
- Requires specialist supervision and careful dose adjustment.
- Can cause low blood pressure and increase bleeding risk.
- Use the required diluent and preparation instructions; solutions have limited storage stability.
Pregnancy
Human pregnancy data are limited. Use only when a specialist judges the expected benefit outweighs potential risks.
Breastfeeding
There is limited information on use during breastfeeding; a specialist should assess benefits and risks.
Interactions
- Anticoagulants and antiplatelet medicines may increase bleeding.
- Other blood-pressure-lowering medicines may increase low blood pressure.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may add to bleeding risk.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.