epoprostenol

openFDA label record#

This page contains supplementary openFDA label data. For the canonical label presentation, use the corresponding DailyMed Structured Product Label.

Verified complete openFDA source JSON (canonical bytes are SHA-256 checked before publication)

Brand name
epoprostenol
Generic name
EPOPROSTENOL
Manufacturer
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc.
Product type
HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG
SPL set ID
db57e498-db20-45e8-8298-b0cf0811d270
SPL ID
fae129b5-c1b5-45f2-864c-eee72f289334
Version
6
Effective date
2025-04-23
Source export date
2026-09-28
Source partition
13
Source file
https://download.open.fda.gov/drug/label/drug-label-0013-of-0014.json.zip
Source object key
raw/openfda/drug-label/2026-09-28/e78bf8aa9f90ab13e640d254dfbd4fe5bfeca4995ec5f9d51bce3356e249cab7/drug-label-0013-of-0014.json.zip
Source manifest SHA-256
cd2e66336a5cd2223fa3995098fdbdb84c6a7ee5c0a4addb236ccb22dd1e6887
Import run
20260929T050834Z
Imported at
2026-09-29 06:37:19
Harmonized routes table
Harmonized routes
INTRAVENOUS

Warnings cross-check#

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Warnings sections page 1 of 1 · 1 matching rows.

warnings and cautions

5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Do not abruptly lower the dose or withdraw dosing. All dosing initiation and changes should be closely monitored. (5.2, 5.3) 5.1 Dose Initiation Epoprostenol for injection is a potent pulmonary and systemic vasodilator. Initiate epoprostenol for injection in a setting with adequate personnel and equipment for physiologic monitoring and emergency care. Dose initiation has been performed during right heart catheterization and without cardiac catheterization. During dose initiation, asymptomatic increases in pulmonary artery pressure coincident with increases in cardiac output occurred rarely. In such cases, consider dose reduction, but such an increase does not imply that chronic treatment is contraindicated. 5.2 Chronic Use and Dose Adjustment During chronic use, deliver epoprostenol for injection continuously on an ambulatory basis through a permanent indwelling central venous catheter. Unless contraindicated, administer anticoagulant therapy to patients receiving epoprostenol for injection to reduce the risk of pulmonary thromboembolism or systemic embolism through a patent foramen ovale. To reduce the risk of infection, use aseptic technique in the reconstitution and administration of epoprostenol for injection and in routine catheter care. Because epoprostenol is metabolized rapidly, even brief interruptions in the delivery of epoprostenol for injection may result in symptoms associated with rebound pulmonary hypertension including dyspnea, dizziness, and asthenia. Intravenous therapy with epoprostenol for injection will likely be needed for prolonged periods, possibly years, so consider the patient’s capacity to accept and care for a permanent intravenous catheter and infusion pump. Based on clinical trials, the acute hemodynamic response (reduction in pulmonary artery resistance) to epoprostenol did not correlate well with improvement in exercise tolerance or survival during chronic use of epoprostenol. Adjust dosage of epoprostenol for injection during chronic use at the first sign of recurrence or worsening of symptoms attributable to pulmonary hypertension or the occurrence of adverse events associated with epoprostenol [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)] . Following dosage adjustments, monitor standing and supine blood pressure and heart rate closely for several hours. 5.3 Withdrawal Effects Abrupt withdrawal (including interruptions in drug delivery) or sudden large reductions in dosage of epoprostenol for injection may result in symptoms associated with rebound pulmonary hypertension, including dyspnea, dizziness, and asthenia. In clinical trials, one Class III primary pulmonary hypertension patient’s death was judged attributable to the interruption of epoprostenol. Avoid abrupt withdrawal.

Adverse reactions cross-check#

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Adverse reactions sections page 1 of 1 · 4 matching rows.

adverse reactions

6 ADVERSE REACTIONS Most common adverse reactions during: Dose Initiation and Escalation: Nausea, vomiting, headache, hypotension, flushing, chest pain, anxiety, dizziness, bradycardia, dyspnea, abdominal pain, musculoskeletal pain, and tachycardia (6.1) Chronic Dosing: Headache, jaw pain, flushing, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, flu-like symptoms, and anxiety/nervousness (6.1) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc. at 1-800-818-4555 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. During clinical trials, adverse events were classified as follows: (1) adverse events during dose initiation and escalation, (2) adverse events during chronic dosing, and (3) adverse events associated with the drug delivery system. Adverse Events during Dose Initiation and Escalation During early clinical trials, epoprostenol was increased in 2-ng/kg/min increments until the patients developed symptomatic intolerance. The most common adverse events and the adverse events that limited further increases in dose were generally related to vasodilation, the major pharmacologic effect of epoprostenol. The most common dose-limiting adverse events (occurring in > 1% of patients) were nausea, vomiting, headache, hypotension, and flushing, but also include chest pain, anxiety, dizziness, bradycardia, dyspnea, abdominal pain, musculoskeletal pain, and tachycardia. Table 8 lists the adverse events reported during dose initiation and escalation in decreasing order of frequency. Table 8: Adverse Events during Dose Initiation and Escalation Adverse Events Occurring in ≥1% of Patients Epoprostenol (n = 391) Flushing 58% Headache 49% Nausea/vomiting 32% Hypotension 16% Anxiety, nervousness, agitation 11% Chest pain 11% Dizziness 8% Bradycardia 5% Abdominal pain 5% Musculoskeletal pain 3% Dyspnea 2% Back pain 2% Sweating 1% Dyspepsia 1% Hypesthesia/paresthesia 1% Tachycardia 1% Adverse Events during Chronic Administration: Interpretation of adverse events is complicated by the clinical features of PAH, which are similar to some of the pharmacologic effects of epoprostenol (e.g., dizziness, syncope). Adverse events which may be related to the underlying disease include dyspnea, fatigue, chest pain, edema, hypoxia, right ventricular failure, and pallor. Several adverse events, on the other hand, can clearly be attributed to epoprostenol. These include hypotension, bradycardia, tachycardia, pulmonary edema, bleeding at various sites, thrombocytopenia, headache, abdominal pain, pain (unspecified), sweating, rash, arthralgia, jaw pain, flushing, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, flu-like symptoms, anxiety/nervousness, and agitation. In addition, chest pain, fatigue, and pallor have been reported during epoprostenol therapy, and a role for the drug in these events cannot be excluded. Adverse Events during Chronic Administration for Idiopathic or Heritable PAH: In an effort to separate the adverse effects of the drug from the adverse effects of the underlying disease, Table 9 lists adverse events that occurred at a rate at least 10% greater on epoprostenol than on conventional therapy in controlled trials for idiopathic or heritable PAH. Table 9: Adverse Events Regardless of Attribution Occurring in Patients with Idiopathic or Heritable PAH with ≥ 10% Difference between Epoprostenol and Conventional Therapy Alone Adverse Event Epoprostenol (n = 52) Conventional Therapy (n = 54) Occurrence More Common With Epoprostenol General Chills/fever/sepsis/flu-like symptoms 25% 11% Cardiovascular Tachycardia 35% 24% Flushing 42% 2% Gastrointestinal Diarrhea 37% 6% Nausea/vomiting 67% 48% Musculoskeletal Jaw pain 54% 0% Myalgia 44% 31% Nonspecific musculoskeletal pain 35% 15% Neurological Anxiety/nervousness/tremor 21% 9% Dizziness 83% 70% Headache 83% 33% Hypesthesia, hyperesthesia, paresthesia 12% 2% Thrombocytopenia has been reported during uncontrolled clinical trials in patients receiving epoprostenol. Adverse Events during Chronic Administration for PAH/SSD In an effort to separate the adverse effects of the drug from the adverse effects of the underlying disease, Table 10 lists adverse events that occurred at a rate at least 10% greater on epoprostenol in the controlled trial. Table 10: Adverse Events Regardless of Attribution Occurring in Patients with PAH/SSD With ≥10% Difference Between Epoprostenol and Conventional Therapy Alone Adverse Event Epoprostenol (n = 56) Conventional Therapy (n = 55) Cardiovascular Flushing 23% 0% Hypotension 13% 0% Gastrointestinal Anorexia 66% 47% Nausea/vomiting 41% 16% Diarrhea 50% 5% Musculoskeletal Jaw pain 75% 0% Pain/neck pain/arthralgia 84% 65% Neurological Headache 46% 5% Skin and Appendages Skin ulcer 39% 24% Eczema/rash/urticaria 25% 4% Although the relationship to epoprostenol administration has not been established, pulmonary embolism has been reported in several patients taking epoprostenol and there have been reports of hepatic failure. Adverse Events Attributable to the Drug Delivery System Chronic infusions of epoprostenol are delivered using a small, portable infusion pump through an indwelling central venous catheter. During controlled PAH trials of up to 12 weeks’ duration, the local infection rate was about 18%, and the rate for pain was about 11%. During long-term follow-up, sepsis was reported at a rate of 0.3 infections/patient per year in patients treated with epoprostenol. This rate was higher than reported in patients using chronic indwelling central venous catheters to administer parenteral nutrition, but lower than reported in oncology patients using these catheters. Malfunctions in the delivery system resulting in an inadvertent bolus of or a reduction in epoprostenol were associated with symptoms related to excess or insufficient epoprostenol, respectively. 6.2 Postmarketing Experience In addition to adverse reactions reported from clinical trials, the following events have been identified during post-approval use of epoprostenol. Because they are reported voluntarily from a population of unknown size, estimates of frequency cannot be made. These events have been chosen for inclusion due to a combination of their seriousness, frequency of reporting, or potential causal connection to epoprostenol. Blood and Lymphatic: Anemia, hypersplenism, pancytopenia, splenomegaly. Cardiac: High output cardiac failure (consider dose reduction) [see Dosage and Administration (2.2), Warnings and Precautions (5.1), and Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]. Endocrine and Metabolic: Hyperthyroidism

adverse reactions table

<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" width="500.08"><colgroup><col width="66.4893617021277%"/><col width="33.5106382978723%"/></colgroup><tbody><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="middle"><content styleCode="bold">Adverse Events Occurring</content> <content styleCode="bold">in &#x2265;1% of Patients</content> </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle"><content styleCode="bold">Epoprostenol</content> <content styleCode="bold">(n = 391)</content> </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Flushing </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="top">58% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Headache </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="top">49% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Nausea/vomiting </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="top">32% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Hypotension </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="top">16% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Anxiety, nervousness, agitation </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="top">11% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Chest pain </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="top">11% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Dizziness </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="top">8% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Bradycardia </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="top">5% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Abdominal pain </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="top">5% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Musculoskeletal pain </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="top">3% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Dyspnea </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="top">2% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Back pain </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="top">2% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Sweating </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="top">1% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Dyspepsia </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="top">1% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Hypesthesia/paresthesia </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="top">1% </td></tr><tr><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Tachycardia </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="top">1% </td></tr></tbody></table>

adverse reactions table

<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" width="796.67"><colgroup><col width="50.5843071786311%"/><col width="20.0333889816361%"/><col width="29.3823038397329%"/></colgroup><tbody><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="middle"><content styleCode="bold">Adverse Event</content> </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle"><content styleCode="bold">Epoprostenol</content> <content styleCode="bold">(n = 52)</content> </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle"><content styleCode="bold">Conventional Therapy</content> <content styleCode="bold">(n = 54)</content> </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" colspan="3" valign="middle"><content styleCode="bold">Occurrence More Common With Epoprostenol</content> </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top"><content styleCode="bold">General</content> </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="top"/><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="top"/></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Chills/fever/sepsis/flu-like symptoms </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">25% </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">11% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top"><content styleCode="bold">Cardiovascular</content> </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle"/><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle"/></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Tachycardia </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">35% </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">24% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Flushing </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">42% </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">2% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top"><content styleCode="bold">Gastrointestinal</content> </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle"/><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle"/></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Diarrhea </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">37% </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">6% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Nausea/vomiting </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">67% </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">48% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top"><content styleCode="bold">Musculoskeletal</content> </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle"/><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle"/></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Jaw pain </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">54% </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">0% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Myalgia </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">44% </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">31% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Nonspecific musculoskeletal pain </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">35% </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">15% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top"><content styleCode="bold">Neurological</content> </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle"/><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle"/></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Anxiety/nervousness/tremor </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">21% </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">9% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Dizziness </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">83% </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">70% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Headache </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">83% </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">33% </td></tr><tr><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Hypesthesia, hyperesthesia, paresthesia </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">12% </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">2% </td></tr></tbody></table>

adverse reactions table

<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" width="654.36"><colgroup><col width="38.0081300813008%"/><col width="26.8292682926829%"/><col width="35.1626016260163%"/></colgroup><tbody><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="middle"><content styleCode="bold">Adverse Event</content> </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle"><content styleCode="bold">Epoprostenol</content> <content styleCode="bold">(n = 56)</content> </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle"><content styleCode="bold">Conventional Therapy </content> <content styleCode="bold">(n = 55)</content> </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="middle"><content styleCode="bold">Cardiovascular</content> </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle"/><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle"/></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="middle">Flushing </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">23% </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">0% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="middle">Hypotension </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">13% </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">0% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top"><content styleCode="bold">Gastrointestinal</content> </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle"/><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle"/></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Anorexia </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">66% </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">47% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Nausea/vomiting </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">41% </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">16% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Diarrhea </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">50% </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">5% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top"><content styleCode="bold">Musculoskeletal</content> </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle"/><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle"/></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Jaw pain </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">75% </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">0% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Pain/neck pain/arthralgia </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">84% </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">65% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="middle"><content styleCode="bold">Neurological</content> </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle"/><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle"/></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="middle">Headache </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">46% </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">5% </td></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top"><content styleCode="bold">Skin and Appendages</content> </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle"/><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle"/></tr><tr styleCode="Botrule"><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Skin ulcer </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">39% </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">24% </td></tr><tr><td styleCode="Lrule Rrule" valign="top">Eczema/rash/urticaria </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">25% </td><td styleCode="Rrule" valign="middle">4% </td></tr></tbody></table>

Reported adverse events (FAERS/openFDA)#

Adverse event summaries are temporarily unavailable. Other product information remains available.