Skip to content

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is raised pressure caused by disease in the small pulmonary arteries. It differs from ordinary high blood pressure and from other forms of pulmonary hypertension.

Revatio

Sildenafil

20mg

Indicated for pulmonary arterial hypertension and developed to alleviate symptoms.

From$1.60/ tabletView

Assurans

Sildenafil

20mg

Indicated to address erectile dysfunction to alleviate physiological performance concerns.

From$2.49/ tabletView

Letairis

Ambrisentan

5 · 10mg

Developed to target pulmonary hypertension to alleviate respiratory stress.

From$13.57/ tabletView

Key takeaways

  • Exertional breathlessness, fatigue, chest discomfort, light-headedness and fainting can reflect reduced blood flow through the lungs.
  • Echocardiography can suggest pulmonary hypertension, but specialist testing is needed to confirm PAH and determine its cause.
  • Targeted medicines may be combined according to risk, response and other conditions; they require specialist monitoring.

Catalogue matches do not confirm PAH or indicate an appropriate targeted regimen.

Why is the exact type important?

Pulmonary hypertension can result from left-heart, lung, clotting or other disease. Right-heart catheterisation and cause-specific tests prevent PAH medicines being used for the wrong mechanism.

What do targeted medicines do?

Sildenafil and ambrisentan act on different vessel pathways. Suitability depends on PAH classification, blood pressure, liver function, pregnancy risk, interactions and specialist review.

When to seek urgent care

Seek emergency care for fainting, severe or rapidly worsening breathlessness, chest pain at rest, blue or grey lips, confusion or new marked swelling with breathing difficulty.