Bosentan
About
Bosentan is an anti-hypertension medication primarily used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (high pressure in the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the lungs). Bosentan can even increase our exercising ability, delay disease progression, and improve quality of life. Blood pressure is the measurement of the force that our heart uses to pump blood to all parts of the body. Hypertension is a chronic condition when blood pressure is too high. This condition can lead to hardened arteries (blood vessels), decreasing the blood and oxygen flow to the heart.
Bosentan contains Bosentan, and an endothelin receptor antagonist used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension. It works by blocking the action of endothelin. Endothelin narrows the blood vessels and increases the pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs. Bosentan helps to relax blood vessels by blocking endothelin and increasing the blood supply to the lungs.
Take Bosentan as prescribed by your doctor. You are advised to take Bosentan for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you, depending upon your medical condition. You may experience swelling of legs and ankles, headaches, and diarrhoea in some cases. Most of these side effects of Bosentan do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor. Some rare cases may cause anaemia and abnormal liver function such as nausea, vomiting, dark urine, and fever, which your doctor should know.
Please inform your doctor if you have liver dysfunction before starting Bosentan. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, do not take Bosentan a pregnancy category X drug. If you are taking Bosentan, women should use a reliable form of the contraceptive pill to avoid pregnancy and continue to use it one month after stopping Bosentan. Also, the blood test for liver functions should be monitored regularly and for haemoglobin level.
Uses of Bosentan
Medicinal Benefits
Bosentan is an anti-hypertension medication primarily used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (high pressure in the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the lungs). Bosentan can even increase our exercising ability, delay disease progression, and improve quality of life. It works by blocking the action of endothelin. Endothelin narrows the blood vessels and increases the pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs. Bosentan helps to relax blood vessels by blocking endothelin and increasing the blood supply to the lungs. It also improves the quality of life, exercising ability, and delays the progression of pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Bosentan
- Swelling of legs and ankles
- Headaches
- Diarrhoea
- Anaemia
- Abnormal liver function,
- Vomiting,
- Dark urine
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Do not take Bosentan if you are allergic to Bosentan or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor if you have liver dysfunction before starting Bosentan. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, do not take Bosentan as it is a pregnancy category X drug. It can lead to defects in the baby if taken during pregnancy. Also, after stoping Bosentan at least after a gap of one month, you should try to conceive so that Bosentan flushed out of body completely. If you are taking Bosentan, women should use a reliable form of the contraceptive pill to avoid pregnancy and continue to use it one month after stopping Bosentan. Blood tests for liver functions should be monitored regularly and for hemoglobin level as well. As low hemoglobin could be a sign of anemia.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Bosentan is known to interact with anti-hypertensive medicines (amiodarone), cholesterol-lowering medications (atorvastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin), antibiotics (erythromycin, rifampin), anti-fungal (fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole), anti-viral (ritonavir), blood thinner (warfarin), immune suppression medicines (cyclosporine), anti-diabetic (glibenclamide), and medicines to treat erectile dysfunction (sildenafil, tadalafil).
Drug-Food Interaction: Bosentan is known to interact with grapefruit juice.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Bosentan is known to interact if you have liver disease, anaemia, cardiovascular disease and fluid retention.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeBosentan should not be taken along with alcohol to avoid unpleasant side effects.
Pregnancy
unsafeBosentan is a category X pregnancy drug and it can cause harm to the baby, so it should not be taken if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant.
Breast Feeding
unsafeBosentan is known to pass through breast milk and may cause harm to the baby, so it should not be taken if you are breastfeeding.
Driving
cautionBosentan may cause hypotension (low blood pressure), which may make you feel dizzy. If you feel dizzy, please do not drive a car.
Liver
cautionBosentan to be taken with caution, especially if you have or have had a history of liver disease. Your doctor will have to change the dosage depending on your medical condition and your reaction to treatment.
Kidney
cautionBosentan to be taken with caution, especially if you have or have had a kidney disease history. Your doctor will have to change the dosage depending on your medical condition and your reaction to treatment.
Children
cautionBosentan is not recommended for use in children.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Keep your weight under control with BMI 19.5-24.9.
- Do regular physical activity or exercise for at least 150 minutes per week, or about 30 minutes most days of the week. Doing this can help you to lower your raised blood pressure by about 5 mm of Hg.
- Opt for a diet rich in whole grains, fruits, veggies, and low-fat dairy products.
- Limit intake of sodium chloride (table salt) in your daily diet to 2300 mg per day or less than 1500 mg is ideal for most adults.
- If you are taking alcohol, then only one serving for women and two servings is advisable.
- Quitting smoking is the best strategy to lower the risk of heart disease.
- Avoid chronic stress as it can raise your blood pressure. Try to enjoy and spent time with your loved ones to cope with stress and practice mindfulness techniques.
- Monitor your blood pressure daily and if there is too much fluctuation, then immediately contact your doctor.
- Try to include heart-healthy omega 3 fatty acid containing food drinks in your daily diet. You can also use low-fat cooking oil like olive oil, soybean oil, canola oil, and coconut oil to lower your elevated blood pressure.
Special Advise
- A blood test to check liver function should be regularly.
- Blood test for low haemoglobin level should be checked regularly as it could be a sign of anaemia.
- The pregnancy test is a must for women of childbearing potential.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
, ,Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH): High pressure in the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the lungs. It can be due to constriction of blood vessels or some blockage in blood vessels' pathway.
FAQs
Bosentan is an anti-hypertension medication primarily used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension. It works by blocking the action of endothelin. Endothelin narrows the blood vessels and increases the pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs. Bosentan helps to relax blood vessels by blocking endothelin and increasing the blood supply to the lungs.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension is high pressure in the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the lungs. It can be due to constriction of blood vessels or some blockage in blood vessels' pathway.
Yes, in rare cases, $Name can cause anaemia. It can decrease your haemoglobin level, which may lead to anaemia. So, please regularly check your haemoglobin level if you are taking Bosentan.
