Letairis
(ambrisentan)
Treats high blood pressure in your lungs.
Our bottom line
Letairis (ambrisentan) is a good choice for some stages of pulmonary arterial hypertension and can help relieve your symptoms, but it won't cure you.
- Drug class: Respiratory
- Rx status: Prescription only
- Generic status: No lower cost generic available
Upsides
- Take Letairis (ambrisentan) only once a day.
- Can help improve your quality of life and exercise ability.
- You can use this medication even if you have kidney or liver problems.
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What to expect from Letairis, on one page
Download Fact SheetDownsides
- You need to be on 2 kinds of birth control during and one month after you stop taking Letairis (ambrisentan).
- If you're female, you have to obtain this medication through a specific program, and only certified pharmacies can dispense it.
- Since this medication is only available as a brand, it is very expensive.
- Can cause swelling of the arms and legs.
- Can lower your blood counts, so you might have to get regular blood tests when you're starting Letairis (ambrisentan).
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What to expect from Letairis, on one page
Download Fact SheetLetairis (ambrisentan) is a vasodilator. It blocks a protein, endothelin, from binding to its designated receptors, which causes the blood pressure in your lungs to lower.
- Drug class: Respiratory
- Rx status: Prescription only
- Generic status: No lower cost generic available
Used for
Dosage forms
- Pill
Prices and coupons
Skip prices section. Skip to what to expect section.What to expect when you take Letairis (ambrisentan) for Pulmonary arterial hypertension
Skip what to expect section. Skip to side effects section.- First few hoursHoursFirst few daysDaysFirst few weeksWeeksFirst few monthsMonths
- Effectiveness
- Starts to kick inFull effects
- First few hoursHoursFirst few daysDaysFirst few weeksWeeksFirst few monthsMonths
- Possible side effects
- Flushing
- Stuffy nose
- Swelling in arms and legs
- Sinus infection
Side effect rates for Letairis (ambrisentan)
- Swelling in arms and legs17%17%11%11%
- Stuffy nose6%6%2%2%
- Flushing4%4%1%1%
- Sinus infection3%3%
The placebo bar shows how common a side effect was for people taking a sugar pill instead of Letairis.
People taking Letairis felt side effect more
People taking Letairis felt side effect less
Risks and Warnings for Letairis (ambrisentan)
Skip risks section. Skip to common concerns section.Letairis (ambrisentan) is toxic to an unborn baby. If you're female, make sure you are using 2 types of contraception during therapy and 1 month after stopping Letairis (ambrisentan). Tell your doctor right away if you find that you're pregnant.
This is a black box warning. The FDA requires this warning when there is a significant risk of serious or life-threatening effects that anyone taking the drug should consider.
Common concerns from people taking Letairis (ambrisentan)
Final section. Do you want to return to drug navigation?- You can take Letairis (ambrisentan) with or without food, but don't split, crush or chew it.
- You can use this medication even if you have kidney or liver problems.