What is Tyvaso?
Tyvaso (treprostinil) is a prescription medicine used in adults to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH; WHO Group I), which is high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs. Tyvaso can improve the ability to exercise.
Your ability to exercise decreases 4 hours after taking Tyvaso. It is not known if Tyvaso is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age.
Tyvaso mimics some of the effects of natural prostacyclin
Prostacyclin is a natural substance made by the body. It helps keep blood vessels in the lungs open and working properly. Patients with PAH may not produce enough natural prostacyclin.
Tyvaso is a prostacyclin analogue. It mimics some of the effects of prostacyclin, helping to keep blood flowing through the lungs.
Adding Tyvaso may help some patients do more
If you’re not doing as well as you’d like on a background oral medicine, such as an ERA or a PDE-5 inhibitor, adding Tyvaso may help you do more.
In a 12-week clinical trial, patients who added Tyvaso to bosentan or sildenafil walked an average of 71 feet (21.6 meters) during a 6-minute walk test, compared with 10 feet (3 meters) in those who did not add Tyvaso.
Tyvaso is inhaled during four treatment sessions each day
Current labeled dose: Treatment starts with 3 breaths (18 mcg) per session, 4 times daily. If 3 breaths are not tolerated, the dose may be reduced to 1 or 2 breaths and then increased as tolerated. The dose is increased by 3 breaths per session at approximately 1- to 2-week intervals toward a target of 9 to 12 breaths per session, 4 times daily.
Tyvaso is a medication that is inhaled, or breathed, directly into the lungs.
Tell your healthcare provider about your medical conditions
Before you take Tyvaso, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- Have lung disease such as asthma or COPD
- Have a lung infection
- Have liver or kidney problems
- Have low blood pressure
- Have bleeding problems
- Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
- Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed
Discuss your medical conditions, medicines, pregnancy or breastfeeding questions, and individual risks with your healthcare provider.
Using the Tyvaso inhalation system
Watch this video for guidance on using the Tyvaso inhalation system.
Tyvaso side effects
| Frequency | Mild | Moderate | Severe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Likely (>10%) | Cough (54%) Headache (41%) Throat irritation / pharyngolaryngeal pain (25%) Flushing (15%) | Nausea (19%) | |
| Less likely (1–10%) | Peripheral edema (5%) | Syncope (6%) | |
| Rare (<1%) |
The following potential approaches to managing the most common side effects with Tyvaso are based on anecdotal evidence and should not be construed as medical advice. United Therapeutics does not recommend or endorse using healthcare products other than as directed or prescribed.
Cough or throat irritation
Talk with your doctor or nurse about the things you can do to help manage side effects, such as if you develop a cough or throat irritation.
Before treatment
- Try an over-the-counter cough medicine
- Use a throat spray
- Try drinking cold or hot water
During and after treatment
- Avoid holding your breath once you inhale
- Rinse your mouth with water after treatment; do not swallow the water
Your doctor may also recommend taking fewer breaths until your cough improves, so make sure you talk to your doctor.
Starting a new specialty medication
Specialty medications are different from regular prescriptions, as you may not pick them up from your local pharmacy. Specialty medications can require more steps than a regular prescription.
- The prescription is completed on a referral form and sent to the manufacturer's hub.
- The hub verifies insurance benefits, identifies an in-network specialty pharmacy, and begins the prior-authorization process.
- The insurance company reviews the prior authorization. If the medication is not approved, the reason may be reviewed for a possible appeal.
- If the copay is difficult to afford, assistance may be available through foundations or, for eligible non-Medicare patients, manufacturer programs.
- Once approved, the specialty pharmacy arranges shipment to the patient's home. Calls may come from the hub or specialty pharmacy and may need a response before shipment.
- Some medications may involve a specialty-pharmacy nurse. Patients are encouraged to work with the full care team.
Financial assistance may be available
United Therapeutics financial support
United Therapeutics provides financial-support information for eligible patients with commercial insurance.
United Therapeutics financial assistanceManufacturer financial-support informationPublic-insurance foundations
For Medicare and Medicaid patients, nonprofit charitable foundations may be able to assist with copay support.
View foundationsMedEd Center public-insurance assistance list