What is ADCIRCA?

The problem

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension is a life threatening condition that is considered a medical emergency. This pathological condition is one that results in impeded normal blood circulation and cardiac functions. With the latest pharmacological breakthrough, United Therapeutics Corporation (www.unither.com) was able to design the treatment regimen for Pulmonary Hypertension.

The Drug

ADCIRCA is a prescription only medication for the treatment of PAH. It was introduced to patients in form of oral tadalafil, a PDE5 inhibitor. ADCIRCA is primarily designed for long term treatment of pulmonary hypertension (PAH), but it has been used off-label for other pathologies such as erectile dysfunction, and Raynaud's Phenomenon.

FDA-approved since 2009, ADCIRCA has been making rounds in the pharmaceutical industry. It is supplied in form of 20mg tablets taken orally, usually at once-a-day dosing, with meals or otherwise, as per doctor's order.

ADCIRCA (tadalafil) acts as a relaxant to pulmonary smooth muscles, thereby resulting in vascular dilation to assist in pulmonary and cardiac circulation. Off- label ADCIRCA has been used for erectile dysfunction disorders. It pretty much has the same mechanism of action as with lungs. When used for ED (Erectile Dysfunction), it tends to increase blood flow going towards the penis, thereby helping reach erection.

Side Effects

ADCIRCA has been associated with untoward side effects. These side effects can range from mild to severe, depending on patient compliance and tolerance. Some common untoward effects in taking Adcirca are:

• Flushing
• Headaches
• Feeling of malaise
• Respiratory difficulties such as dyspnea and painful breathing
• Back pain
• Mucle pain
• Pulmonary infections
• Nasopharyngeal inflammation
• Gastrointestinal upset
• Nausea and vomiting

Contraindications

ADCIRCA has been contraindicated for use in some patients with certain manifested conditions. Talking to a doctor before taking this medication is highly advised. Since this type of medication affects vital functions of the cardiopulmonary system, it is highly imperative that before starting on Adcirca, doctor's clearance had been given and that proper tests had been done.

Some highlighted contraindications for Adcirca are, but not limited to:

• Allergy to any component of Adcirca
• Blood pressure that is either too high or too low
• Hematologic disorders such as sickle cell anemia, leukemia, and myeloma
• Liver and kidney disease
• Hearing deficiency, difficulty, and/or defect
• Vision impairment
• Peyronie's disease
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding

These contraindications may not be always absolute. There are rare cases when when benefits from treatment with ADCIRCA clearly outweighs the risks.

Where to Buy ADCIRCA?

• You might get a prescription (Rx) from your health care provider and buy ADCIRCA in a local pharmacy
• Order the drug through a certified online pharmacy by faxing or emailing the prescription. Please use PharmacyChecker to compare prices for ADCIRCA: http://pharmacychecker.com/Strength.asp?drugId=79226

Useful Information

• Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) Agents: http://www.oregon.gov/OHA/OHPR/HRC/docs/PDL/PAH-Agents-12-09.pdf
• Official Site: http://www.adcirca.com/patient/default.aspx
• Full ADCIRCA Prescribing Information: http://pi.lilly.com/us/adcirca-pi.pdf
• Tadalafil: http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?id=47091
• Learn about Pulmonary Hypertension: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001171/

If you have any questions and comments, you are always welcome to contact us.