Flolan (Epoprostenol sodium) Drug Information: Description, User Reviews, Drug Side Effects, Interactions

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May 26, 2012

Flolan

High Blood Pressure »

High blood pressure facts

High blood pressure (hypertension) is designated as either essential (primary) hypertension or secondary hypertension and is defined as a consistently elevated blood pressure exceeding 140/90 mm Hg.
High blood pressure is called "the silent killer" because it often causes no symptoms for many years, even decades, until it finally damages certain critical organs.
Poorly controlled high blood pressure ultimately can cause damage to blood vessels in the eye, thickening of the heart muscle and heart attacks, hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis), kidney failure, and strokes.
Most antihypertensive medications can be used alone or in combination. Some are used only in combination. Some are preferred over others in certain specific medical situations. And some are not to be used (contraindicated) in other situations.
Several classes of antihypertensive medications are available, including ACE i...

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Flolan

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FLOLAN®
(epoprostenol sodium) for Injection

DRUG DESCRIPTION

FLOLAN (epoprostenol sodium) for Injection is a sterile sodium salt formulated for intravenous (IV) administration. Each vial of FLOLAN (epoprostenol sodium) contains epoprostenol sodium equivalent to either 0.5 mg (500,000 ng) or 1.5 mg (1,500,000 ng) epoprostenol, 3.76 mg glycine, 2.93 mg sodium chloride, and 50 mg mannitol. Sodium hydroxide may have been added to adjust pH.

Epoprostenol (PGI2, PGX, prostacyclin), a metabolite of arachidonic acid, is a naturally occurring prostaglandin with potent vasodilatory activity and inhibitory activity of platelet aggregation.

Epoprostenol is (5Z,9α,11α,13E,15S)-6,9-epoxy-11,15-dihydroxyprosta-5,13-dien-1-oic acid.

Epoprostenol sodium has a molecular weight of 374.45 and a molecular formula of C₂₀H₃₁NaO₅. The structural formula is:

FLOLAN® (epoprostenol sodium) Structural Formula Illustration

FLOLAN (epoprostenol sodium) is a white to off-white powder that must be reconstituted with STERILE DILUENT for FLOLAN (epoprostenol sodium) . STERILE DILUENT for FLOLAN (epoprostenol sodium) is supplied in glass vials containing 50 mL of 94 mg glycine, 73.3 mg sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide (added to adjust pH), and Water for Injection, USP.

The reconstituted solution of FLOLAN (epoprostenol sodium) has a pH of 10.2 to 10.8 and is increasingly unstable at a lower pH.

What are the possible side effects of epoprostenol (Flolan)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

chest tightness trouble breathing;
fast, slow, or uneven heart rate;
pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding;
nosebleed;
blood in your urine or stools;
coughing up blood; or
feeling like you might pass out.

Less...

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What are the precautions when taking epoprostenol sodium (Flolan)?

Before using epoprostenol, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: heart failure (on the left side of the heart), bleeding problems (such as bleeding of the stomach/intestines), blood disorders (such as thrombocytopenia), liver disease.

This drug may make you dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Limit alcoholic beverages.

To lower your risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get...

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Last reviewed on RxList: 5/24/2011
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.