Before looking at Uptravi side effects, let us understand what Uptravi (selexipag) is. It is a prostacyclin receptor agonist meant for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH, WHO Group I). This medication helps in delaying disease progression and minimizes the risk of hospitalization for PAH.

One of the most important things you should know about Uptravi (Selexipag) is that you shouldn’t use selexipag once you notice you’re allergic to it.

A lot of drugs can interact and cause unwanted effects. There are some drugs that you shouldn’t take together with Uptravi. Consult a doctor to change your treatment plan if you also use the following:

• Clopidogrel
• Gemfibrozil.

Inform your doctor if you have ever had the following:

• Pulmonary Veno-occlusive disease condition (narrowing the veins that carry blood from the lungs to the heart).
• A liver disease.

Health experts have ascertained whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby yet. But you need to inform your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to be.

Make sure you don’t breastfeed while using Uptravi (selexipag).

So How Do I Use Uptravi?

Make sure you go through the Patient Information Leaflet before taking Uptravi and get a refill each time. You will find this instruction from your pharmacist. In case you have any queries, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

This medication should be taken by mouth twice daily with or without food as your doctor had directed. However, when you take this medication with food, it may lessen stomach upset.

Ensure you don’t split, chew, or crush the tablet before taking it. However, many similar drugs can be split or chewed. Make sure you follow the directions of your doctor on how you should take this medication.

Please note that dosage depends on the response to treatment, your medical condition, and other medications you might have taken. But inform your doctor or pharmacist about all the products you’ve taken first.

To minimize the risk of side effects, your doctor might advise you to begin taking the medication at a low dose and then increase your quantity later. Just follow your doctor’s instructions carefully.

Uptravi Side Effects

The use of Uptravi may cause some severe side effects, which include:

• Breathing difficulty
• Hives
• The swelling of the lips, face, tongue, or throat.
• Pale skin
• An unusual tiredness
• Lightheadedness
• Shortness of breath
• Having cold hands and feet
• Anxiety
• Sweating
• Having cough with foamy mucus
• Having chest pain
• Fast or uneven heart rate

Make sure you go for medical help once you notice any of the symptoms listed above.

Side effects of Uptravi that are joint includes:

• Jaw pain
• Headache,
• Muscle pain
• Nausea
• Pains in your arms or legs
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling)

Inform your doctor if you notice any side effect that troubles you or doesn’t go away.

Please note that these are not all the possible side effects of Uptravi. Get all your inquiries from your doctor or pharmacist.

The Side Effects That Needs Immediate Medical Attention

Indeed, Uptravi may cause some unwanted effects. But it’s not all the side effects that may happen. However, if they occur, they may need immediate medical attention.

Consult a doctor immediately once you notice any of the following side effects occurring while taking Uptravi:

Unknown Incidence

• Chest pain
• Blue lips and fingernails
• Having a cough that sometimes produces a frothy pink sputum
• Having difficult, noisy, fast breathing.
• An increased sweating
• A pale skin
• A swelling legs and ankles

The Side Effects That Doesn’t Need Immediate Medical Attention

Some side effects may occur when you take this medication that doesn’t need medical attention. Most of these side effects will go out while treating as your body adjusts to the medicine.

However, your health provider should be able to give you information on how to prevent or minimize some of these side effects.

Here are more common side effects

• Diarrhoea
• Decreased appetite
• Feeling of warmth
• Having joint pain
• Headache
• Aching or cramping muscle
• Pains or stiffness in muscle
• Nausea
• Having rash
• Pain in the jaw, arms, or legs
• Having redness in the neck, face, arms, and sometimes upper chest
• A swollen joints
• Vomiting

Who Shouldn’t Take UPTRAVI?

Would you mind not taking UPTRAVI if you have taken gemfibrozil? Note that this medicine may affect how UPTRAVI works on you and may cause side effects.

But before you take UPTRAVI, inform your healthcare provider if you have:

• Liver issues
• Any other medical conditions
• Narrowing of the pulmonary veins, which is a condition called pulmonary venous-occlusive disease.
• Signs of pregnancy or planning to be. But it isn’t known yet if UPTRAVI will harm your unborn baby.
• Any breastfeeding plan. But it isn’t known yet if UPTRAVI passes into your breast milk. But make sure you consult your healthcare provider to decide if you’ll take UPTRAVI while breastfeeding.

Ensure you inform your healthcare provider about all drugs you’ve taken, including self-prescribed and over-the-counter medicines, herbal supplements, and vitamins.

Always remember that UPTRAVI and other medicines may affect each other, causing you some side effects. Make sure you don’t start any new medication until you consult your healthcare provider.

Recommended Dosage

I advise you to start UPTRAVI with a 200 micrograms (mcg) dose, which you should take twice daily.

You may increase the dose by increasing 200 mcg twice daily, but generally at weekly intervals. But you can go to the highest tolerated dosage of up to 1600 mcg twice daily.

However, if the patient reaches a dose they can’t tolerate, they should minimize the quantity to the previously taken dosage.

Please, you should not crush, split, or chew tablets.

Conclusion

Some medicines, such as UPTRAVI, are sometimes prescribed by healthcare providers for purposes other than those listed in the Patient Information leaflet.

However, make sure you do not use UPTRAVI for any condition your healthcare provider did not prescribe. The UPTRAVI medicine shouldn’t be given to other people, even when they have the same symptoms that you have.

Doing so may cause serious harm to them. Make sure to consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about UPTRAVI.