Verquvo 2.5 mg film-coated tablets, Verquvo 5 mg film-coated tablets, Verquvo 10 mg film-coated tablets
vericiguat
What Verquvo is and what it is used for
Verquvo contains the active substance vericiguat, which is a type of heart medicine called a soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator.
Verquvo is used to treat adults with long-term heart failure who have recently had increased symptoms of heart failure. You may therefore have been admitted to the hospital and/or given a medicine (diuretic/diuretic) administered into a vein ( intravenously ) to make you urinate more than usual.
Heart failure is when the heart is weak and cannot pump enough blood around the body. Some common symptoms of heart failure are shortness of breath, fatigue, or swelling due to fluid retention.
What you need to know before using Verquvo
Do not take Verquvo
- if you are allergic to vericiguat or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6),
- if you are taking any medicine containing another stimulator of soluble guanylate cyclase, eg riociguat used to treat high blood pressure in the lungs.
If any of the above apply to you, do not take this medicine without first talking to your doctor.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Verquvo, if you have
- low blood pressure with symptoms such as dizziness or feeling unsteady
- severe kidney problems or dialysis treatment
- severe liver problems.
Children and young people
Do not give this medicine to children and adolescents under the age of 18, as it has not yet been studied in this age group.
Other medicines and Verquvo
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines, especially those which
- belongs to the group of soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators (e.g. riociguat). Do not take Verquvo while taking these medicines. See “Do not take Verquvo”.
- treat high blood pressure in the lungs or medicines to get or keep an erection called PDE5 inhibitors (eg sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil). The use of these medicines is not recommended while taking Verquvo.
- treat heart disease with chest pain and which are called nitrates (eg isosorbide mononitrate ).
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using this medicine.
Pregnancy
Vericiguat should not be used during pregnancy, as it is not known whether it will harm the unborn baby. If you can get pregnant, talk to your doctor about reliable birth control.
Breast-feeding
It is not known whether Verquvo passes into breast milk and could harm your baby. The doctor will decide together with you whether you should stop breastfeeding or whether treatment with Verquvo should be ended.
Driving ability and use of machinery
If you feel dizzy during treatment with this medicine, you should not drive, cycle or use any machinery.
Verquvo contains lactose and sodium
This medicine contains lactose. If you have an intolerance to certain sugars, you should consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol (23 mg) of sodium per dose, i.e. it is almost “sodium-free”.
How to take Verquvo
Always take this medicine as directed by your doctor. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure.
The recommended starting dose is 1 tablet of 2.5 mg once daily. The doctor will then adjust the dose depending on how well you tolerate the treatment. Usually, the doctor increases the dose after about 2 weeks to 1 tablet of 5 mg once daily and after another 2 weeks to the highest target dose of 1 tablet of 10 mg once daily.
If you develop low blood pressure during treatment with Verquvo, you may feel dizzy and unsteady. The doctor can then temporarily lower the Verquvo dose or stop the treatment with Verquvo.
Take one tablet at the same time each day with food. If you cannot swallow the tablet, you can crush Verquvo and mix it with water. Take this mixture immediately.
If you have taken too much Verquvo
Contact your doctor immediately if you have taken too much Verquvo and you experience any of the side effects listed in section 4. The most likely effect is a drop in blood pressure, which may make you feel dizzy and unsteady.
If you forget to take Verquvo
Take the forgotten tablet as soon as you remember on the same day as the missed dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed tablet.
If you stop taking Verquvo
Do not stop taking this medicine without first talking to your doctor. If you stop taking this medicine, your condition may worsen.
If you have any further questions about this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Possible side effects are:
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 users)
- low blood pressure ( hypotension )
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 users)
- the low number of red blood cells (anemia), which can cause pale skin, weakness, or shortness of breath
- dizziness
- headache
- nausea and vomiting
- indigestion ( dyspepsia )
- heartburn ( gastroesophageal reflux disease )
How to store Verquvo
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Use before the expiry date which is stated on the carton and each blister or can after “EXP”. The expiration date is the last day of the specified month.
No special storage instructions.
Medicines must not be thrown into the drain or among the household waste. Ask the pharmacist how to dispose of medicines that are no longer used. These measures will help to protect the environment.
Contents of the packaging and other information
Contents declaration
– The active substance is vericiguat. Each film-coated tablet contains 2.5 mg, 5 mg, or 10 mg of vericiguat.
– Other ingredients are:
Tablet core: Microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, hypromellose 2910, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, sodium lauryl sulfate (see section 2 “Verquvo contains lactose and sodium”).
Film coating: Hypromellose 2910, talc, titanium dioxide (E 171), red iron oxide (E 172) (only Verquvo 5 mg), yellow iron oxide (E 172) (only Verquvo 10 mg).
Appearance and package sizes of the medicine
Verquvo 2.5 mg film-coated tablets (tablets) are round, biconvex, and white with a diameter of 7 mm, marked with “2.5” on one side and “VC” on the other side.
Verquvo 5 mg film-coated tablets (tablets) are round, biconvex, and brown-red with a diameter of 7 mm, marked with “5” on one side and “VC” on the other side.
Verquvo 10 mg film-coated tablets (tablets) are round, biconvex, and yellow-orange colored with a diameter of 9 mm, marked with “10” on one side and “VC” on the other side.
Verquvo exists
- in blisters in cartons of 14, 28, or 98 film-coated tablets
- in perforated single-dose blisters in cartons of 10 x 1 or 100 x 1 film-coated tablets
- in jars of 100 film-coated tablets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Bayer AG
51368 Leverkusen
Germany
Manufacturer
Bayer AG
Kaiser Wilhelm Allee
51368 Leverkusen
Germany