Ambrisentan

1 medicine

Ambrisentan widens the blood vessels in the lungs to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension, and it must never be used in pregnancy because it causes severe birth defects.

Letairis

Ambrisentan

5/10mg

Letairis is a heart blood pressure medication containing Ambrisentan, available as 5/10mg tablets.

from $13.57 / tablet View

Key facts

  • Ambrisentan is an endothelin receptor antagonist used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), high blood pressure in the arteries between the heart and lungs.
  • It's taken once daily as a tablet; benefits on breathlessness and exercise capacity build over weeks.
  • Ambrisentan causes severe birth defects if taken during pregnancy. Women who can become pregnant must use reliable contraception and have a pregnancy test before starting and monthly during treatment.
  • Seek urgent care for sudden severe shortness of breath, chest pain, or rapid swelling with weight gain.

What Ambrisentan treats

Ambrisentan treats pulmonary arterial hypertension, including cases linked to connective-tissue disease or congenital heart disease, easing the strain on the right side of the heart and improving how far and how easily you can walk. It's not a treatment for other forms of high blood pressure or for pulmonary hypertension caused by lung or left-sided heart disease.

How Ambrisentan works

A hormone called endothelin-1 signals blood vessels in the lungs to narrow, raising pressure in the pulmonary arteries and straining the heart. Ambrisentan blocks endothelin receptors on the vessel walls, so the vessels relax and widen, lowering pulmonary pressure and reducing the heart's workload.

Before you take it

  • Do not take ambrisentan if you are pregnant or could become pregnant without using effective contraception. It's also not recommended while breastfeeding.
  • Tell your prescriber about liver disease. Liver function is checked before starting and periodically during treatment.
  • Ambrisentan can lower red blood cell counts, so blood counts are checked periodically, especially in the first months.
  • Other medicines that affect liver enzymes, and other blood-pressure-lowering drugs, can change how ambrisentan works.

Side effects

Common effects include headache, flushing, ankle swelling and a stuffy nose.

Stop and seek urgent medical care for:

  • Sudden or worsening shortness of breath, or chest pain.
  • Rapid swelling and weight gain from fluid retention.
  • Yellowing of the skin or eyes, or unusual tiredness suggesting liver trouble.
  • Signs of pregnancy, which requires stopping the drug and getting urgent medical advice.

Safety essentials

  • Pregnancy is an absolute contraindication. Ambrisentan is teratogenic, so women of childbearing potential need a negative pregnancy test before starting and monthly tests throughout treatment, alongside reliable contraception.
  • Liver function and blood counts are checked at baseline and at regular intervals during treatment.
  • Do not stop ambrisentan suddenly without medical advice, since worsening PAH symptoms can follow.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.