Iloprost

Iloprost is an active substance for the treatment of thrombangiitis obliterans and pulmonary hypertension. It belongs to the group of prostacyclin analogs and has a vasodilating and anti-platelet aggregation effect. Iloprost is available as an infusion solution concentrate and as a solution for nebulization. In medicines, it is usually present as iloprost trometamol and is hardly soluble in water.

Iloprost works by dilating the blood vessels. As an analog of prostacyclin, it mimics its effect. The exact mechanism has not yet been clarified, but it is assumed that iloprost inhibits the catecholamine outflow from nerve endings. It increases capillary density, which leads to reduced permeability. The active ingredient also has anti-inflammatory properties.

Iloprost is metabolized in the liver and excreted via the kidneys. The half-life of iloprost, i.e. the time it takes the body to excrete half of the active substance, is around 20-30 minutes.

Always take Iloprost exactly as described in the package leaflet or as advised by your doctor.

Adults:

A usual recommended dose cannot be generalized for Iloprost, as the dosage varies depending on weight and underlying disease.

The following side effects may occur:

Very common:

• Headache
• flushing
• Nausea
• vomiting
• Excessive sweating

Frequent:

• Decreased appetite
• apathy
• confusion
• dizziness
• Sensory disturbances (paresthesias and hyperesthesias)
• burning sensation
• restlessness
• agitation
• sedation
• drowsiness
• rapid heartbeat
• slow heartbeat
• tachycardia
• increased blood pressure
• Decreased blood pressure
• breathing difficulties
• diarrhea
• abdominal pain
• jaw pain
• Spasm of the chewing muscles (trismus)
• Muscle pain
• joint pain
• fever
• Feeling of warmth
• malaise
• chills
• tiredness
• Feeling thirsty
• Reactions at the injection site

Occasional:

• Decreased platelet count
• Hypersensitivity
• Anxiety
• Depression
• hallucinations
• convulsions
• Fainting spells
• tremors
• migraine
• blurred vision
• Eye pain and eye irritation
• heart attack
• heart failure
• cardiac arrhythmias
• cerebrovascular disorders
• stroke
• pulmonary embolism
• venous thrombosis
• bronchial asthma
• pulmonary edema
• bloody diarrhea
• rectal bleeding
• dyspepsia
• compulsion to defecate
• constipation
• belching
• dysphagia
• dry mouth
• taste disturbances
• jaundice
• itching
• muscle cramps
• kidney pain
• painful urination
• urinary abnormality
• painful bladder emptying disorder
• Disease of the urinary tract

Rarely:

• Disorders of the vestibule
• cough
• Inflammation of the rectal mucosa

Interactions may occur if the following medicines are taken at the same time:

• Blood pressure-lowering medication
• Medication for blood clotting
• Medication from the glucocorticoid group

Iloprost must NOT be taken in the following cases:

• in case of bleeding
• severe coronary heart disease
• unstable angina pectoris (heart failure)
• in the case of a heart attack within the last 6 months
• acute or chronic heart failure
• severe cardiac arrhythmia
• suspected pulmonary congestion
• allergy to iloprost

Iloprost should NOT be used under the age of 18 due to a lack of safety and efficacy studies.

Iloprost should NOT be used during pregnancy as adverse effects have been observed in animal studies in rats.

Iloprost should NOT be used during breastfeeding, as animal studies in rats have shown that the active substance passes into breast milk.

Prostaglandins owe their name to their discoverers, Goldblatt and Ulf, who first described prostaglandins as components of sperm in 1933. They assumed that the vasculogenic properties originated from the prostate. This assertion later turned out to be wrong. Prostaglandins were first isolated in 1962 by Sune Bergström and Bengt Samuelsson.