There is a standard normal pressure at which blood flows within the arteries. The standard normal mean arterial pressure within the lungs is around 14 mmHg or less. Unfortunately, some people are unable to maintain this pressure and suffer from pulmonary hypertension- elevated blood pressure in the lungs.
If it’s unaddressed, there could be heart damage or failure. To lower the pulmonary artery pressure and avoid serious health issues, thankfully, there are medications available. One of the popular brand-name effective pills for pulmonary hypertension is Adcirca.
You can enquire about it with your healthcare provider and even learn its details in this article on what is Adcirca used for?
You have landed on the right page if interested in knowing what is Adcirca used for, its working, dosage, side effects, cost, and more.
Here, you can learn about treating pulmonary hypertension with Adcirca and even get answers to one of the most frequently asked questions: What is Adcirca used for?Adcirca is a very familiar drug available at your nearest drugstores and even online pharmacies.
If your doctor prescribes Adcirca, the best thing is that you can buy Adcirca online at a discounted price. Adcirca’s cost is not very high; you can relax and explore the best competitive Adcirca price by visiting our online pharmacy- Life Rx Pharmacy!
What is Adcirca?
Adcirca is the brand name of a generic agent of Group I pulmonary hypertension, a phosphodiesterase 5 (selective cGMP) inhibitor named Tadalafil. It’s manufactured by Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, USA, and marketed by United Therapeutics Corporation.
Adcirca is a prescription medicine containing the active ingredient Tadalafil. Tadalafil is chemically designated as pyrazino [1’,2’:1,6] pyrido [3,4.b] indole-1,4-dione, 6-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl) 2,3,6,7,12,12a-hexahydro-2-methyl-, (6R,12aR)-. Its generic version is available.
Tadalafil is available in the form of tablets of strength 20 mg for oral administration. It comes in a blister package containing 28-56 tablets.
What is Adcirca used for?
The Food and Drug Administration approves Adcirca tablets for WHO Group 1 pulmonary hypertension treatment to improve the ability to stay active with daily workouts.
Understanding Pulmonary Hypertension (PH)
Pulmonary hypertension (PH), also referred to as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), is a lung and heart condition characterized by high blood pressure in the lungs’ arteries, which carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs.
It is considered a serious condition as it makes the lungs’ arteries stiff and narrow. As a result, the heart’s pumping needs to be harder to allow the oxygenated blood to flow through it and reach the rest of the body. The condition can be seen in people of all ages, mostly women, and those with pre-existing lung/heart conditions. If it is ignored or left untreated, impaired lung and heart functioning could lead to death due to failure of the vital organs.
The most noted signs of taking Adcirca include:
- Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
- Tiredness or a worn-out feeling
- Chest pain
- Dizziness/fainting.
How Does Adcirca Work in the Body?
As you now have the answer to what is Adcirca used for, after reading the previous section, you now understand how tadalafil works in pulmonary hypertension.
Adcirca (tadalafil) belongs to the pharmacological class PAH phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5 inhibitors). It works by inhibiting the action of the PDE-5 enzyme, which is involved in the contraction of smooth muscles surrounding blood vessels.
They prevent the PDE-5 enzyme from stimulating PDE-5 receptors- a type of protein molecule abundantly found in the smooth muscles of pulmonary blood vessels. This leads to an increase in the concentration of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), a signaling molecule that relaxes the vascular smooth muscles, dilates the blood vessels/arteries, and reduces blood pressure by improving blood flow.
Recommended Adcirca Dosage
Knowing about the recommended Adcirca dosage is essential for safety and effectiveness reasons after learning what is Adcirca used for.
The recommended dose of Adcirca is two 20 mg tablets taken once daily at the same time with or without food and with plenty of water.
What are the Adcirca Side Effects?
After understanding what is Adcirca used for, it is crucial to know about its safe use.
The use of Adcirca (tadalafil) in normal, recommended doses by patients suffering from pulmonary arterial hypertension is generally completely safe if taken with a doctor’s prescription and as per the doctor’s directions/advice. However, side effects are still a possibility.
But not every patient experiences them. Most of the unwanted effects are mild and temporary, and rarely, the effects are serious, requiring prompt medical attention.
Some of the commonly reported side effects of Adcirca include:
- Upset stomach or nausea
- Headache
- Warmth, redness, or a tingly feeling (flushing)
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Aching muscles, back, arms, or legs.
Some of the serious side effects of taking Adcirca that require prompt medical help include
- Vision changes or sudden loss
- Signs of a heart attack- chest pain/pressure that spreads to the jaw/shoulder, sweating, or nausea
- Ringing in the ears or sudden loss of hearing
- Prolonged/painful erection
- Allergic reaction.
Adcirca can have more possible side effects; talk to a doctor to get more details and even medical advice about side effects.
To avoid serious side effects of Adcirca, the patient should take the following precautions:
- Take the medicine as directed by a doctor
- If you missed a dose, do not go beyond the daily recommended dosage to make up for it
- Do not take the drug if pregnant, planning pregnancy, or nursing a child
- Make sure that Adcirca is safe for use by informing the doctor about existing allergies, current intake of medications or supplements, and illnesses (if any)
- Avoid alcohol and grapefruit consumption when on the course of Adcirca
- Have a healthy diet, as normal, unless the doctor advises any dietary changes.
What is the cost of Adcirca?
Adcirca cost is variable, influenced by factors like
- The chosen pharmacy
- The treatment plan—the quantity of supply
- The availability of a financial assistance/savings program.
To know the exact Adcirca price for your purchase, as well as details regarding what is Adcirca used for, speak to your doctor today.
Why is Adcirca so expensive?
Adcirca is expensive, as it is a brand-name prescription medication that goes through price fixing by drug manufacturers, suppliers, and pharmacists. Drug research and development and advertising all add up to its final cost.
At online pharmacies, Adcirca is available for purchase at the best, most competitive prices. If searching for a pharmacy offering reasonably priced Adcirca, visit Life Rx Pharmacy and Buy Adcirca Online. With an online or mail-order pharmacy, you can have long-term savings on the purchase of Adcirca and get the medicine delivered to your home. Some Medicare plans may even cover the price of online-ordered medications like Adcirca.
For answers to the most asked questions about Adcirca, besides What is Adcirca used for? Scroll down to read the FAQs section.
FAQs
How long does Adcirca take to work for pulmonary hypertension?
The active ingredient, Tadalafil, in Adcirca starts working within 30-60 minutes of taking the pill. As per clinical studies, it has been found that following 4 weeks of pulmonary hypertension treatment with Adcirca, the patient’s lung health considerably improved.
Can Adcirca be used with other PAH medications?
This needs to be discussed with the healthcare provider to be medically evaluated for the treatment options and potential risk of drug interactions. In some patients, Adcirca is prescribed even if the patient is already taking Bosentan, a medicine to treat PAH. However, the guanylate cyclase stimulator, a PAH medicine, is recommended not to be taken along with Adcirca.
Can Adcirca be taken at night?
Adcirca is recommended to be taken once daily at the same time every day. Although it can be taken at any time, it’s better to take the drug with or without food in the morning hours so that exercise can be done without discomfort and there are no health risks during sleep.
How safe is Adcirca for long-term use?
The long-term safety and tolerability of Adcirca in treating pulmonary hypertension can be checked with the doctor prescribing the medicine.
What if I miss a dose of Adcirca?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember, unless it’s nearly time for your next scheduled dose- in that case, skip the missed one.
Yes. Adcirca (tadalafil) is a phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitor that lowers pulmonary arterial blood pressure to help improve breathing as well as exercise ability.
References:
- https://www.adcirca.com/patient/index.aspx
- https://www.drugs.com/adcirca.html
- https://phassociation.org/patients/treatments/tadalafil/
- https://www.rxlist.com/adcirca-drug.htm
- https://www.news-medical.net/drugs/Adcirca.aspx6.https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2020/022332Orig1s011lbl.pdf
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