Skip to main content

About PAH Understanding PAH and its impact

What is PAH?

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a type of high blood pressure that affects both the heart and lungs. It causes the blood vessels in the lungs to become narrower, which makes the heart work extra hard to push blood through the narrow vessels.


Common PAH symptoms may include:

  • Fatigue
  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain
  • Dizziness
  • Lightheadedness, fainting
  • Swollen abdomen
  • Swollen ankles
  • Irregular heartbeat

PAH can be challenging to diagnose because its symptoms are so similar to other more common diseases such as asthma, COPD, or heart disease. Doctors may try a variety of tests to rule out PAH, but the only way to definitively diagnose PAH is a right heart catheterization.

I come back every three months and I do my walk test. And most of the time I rock it. I have my bad moments. It's part of life. But most of the time I rock it.

- Lisa, Orenitram Patient

Individual experiences may vary.

What is risk status—
and why is it so important?

PAH is a progressive disease, which means it gets worse over time. That's why it's so important to understand whether your PAH is getting better, staying the same, or progressing.

Know your risk status

  • Low risk Mild PAH
  • Intermediate risk Moderate PAH
  • High risk Severe PAH

Doctors may look at many different measures, such as the function of the right side of 
your heart and your 6-minute walk test. From that, they make decisions about your care.

What is moderate PAH?

Moderate PAH is just another, more general, way of saying "intermediate risk." Most people have moderate PAH when they're diagnosed.

Moderate PAH is different for everyone. Some people with moderate (intermediate risk) PAH may be closer to mild PAH, while others may be closer to severe PAH. That's why it's so important to check in with your doctor every 3-6 months so they can monitor your progress. Doctors may use an echocardiogram or other tests to help them determine the next steps in your treatment.

Getting to low risk status is a key goal of treatment

Having lower risk, which is mild PAH, is linked to better outcomes for some patients.

How is PAH treated?

PAH symptoms are caused by imbalances of certain natural substances in your body. There are different treatments associated with each of these pathways.

  • Endothelin
  • Nitric oxide
  • Activin
  • Prostacyclin

Orenitram focuses on the prostacyclin pathway. It helps replace natural prostacyclin that you may be missing. It's made to help keep the blood vessels in the lungs open, which makes it easier for your heart to pump blood through your lungs.

Learn about Orenitram and how it may help

Why Orenitram?

Important Safety 
Information for Orenitram

Who should not take Orenitram?

Do not take Orenitram if you have severe liver problems.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking Orenitram?

Tell your healthcare provider:

What is Orenitram?

Orenitram is a prescription medicine used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) which is high blood pressure in the arteries of your lungs. Orenitram can help slow down the progression of your disease and improve your ability to exercise. It is not known if Orenitram is safe and effective in children.

Important Safety Information for Orenitram

Who should not take Orenitram?

Do not take Orenitram if you have severe liver problems.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking Orenitram?

Tell your healthcare provider:

  • If you have liver problems or diverticulosis.
  • If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, and/or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed. It is not known if Orenitram will harm your unborn baby or if Orenitram passes into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during treatment with Orenitram.
  • About all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Orenitram and other medicines may affect each other causing side effects. Do not start any new medicine until you check with your healthcare provider. Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take another medicine that contains treprostinil, such as Remodulin® or Tyvaso®.

What is Orenitram?

Orenitram is a prescription medicine used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) which is high blood pressure in the arteries of your lungs. Orenitram can help slow down the progression of your disease and improve your ability to exercise. It is not known if Orenitram is safe and effective in children.

How should I take Orenitram?

  • Do not change your dose or suddenly stop taking Orenitram without first talking to your healthcare provider.
  • Orenitram is usually taken 3 times a day (about every 8 hours) or 2 times a day (about every 12 hours). Your healthcare provider will tell you how often you should take Orenitram. If you have side effects, your healthcare provider may tell you to change your dose or when you take Orenitram. Take Orenitram with food.
  • Swallow Orenitram tablets whole. Do not split, chew, crush, or break your Orenitram tablets. Do not take Orenitram tablets that are damaged or broken. If Orenitram tablets are not taken whole, they may release too much medicine at one time. This can lead to side effects.
  • If you miss your dose of Orenitram, take the missed dose as soon as possible with food.
  • If you miss 2 or more doses of Orenitram, call your healthcare provider to see if you need to change your dose.
  • If you take too much Orenitram, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.
  • You may see the tablet shell in your stools (bowel movements). This is usually normal. The tablet shell is not digested. If you have diverticulosis, the tablet shell may get stuck in a blind pouch or diverticulum in your intestine.

What are the possible side effects of Orenitram?

Orenitram can cause serious side effects, including worsening of PAH symptoms.

  • Stopping Orenitram suddenly may cause worsening of your PAH symptoms. Do not change your dose or suddenly stop taking Orenitram without first talking to your healthcare provider.
  • The most common side effects of Orenitram include headache, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, flushing, and pain in arms, legs, and jaw. These are not all of the possible side effects of Orenitram. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.
  • Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/MedWatch or call 1‑800‑FDA‑1088.

What is Orenitram?

Orenitram is a prescription medicine used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) which is high blood pressure in the arteries of your lungs. Orenitram can help slow down the progression of your disease and improve your ability to exercise. It is not known if Orenitram is safe and effective in children.

The risk information provided here is not comprehensive. To learn more about Orenitram, talk with your healthcare provider.

Please see Full Prescribing Information and Patient Information at www.orenitram.com or call Customer Service at 1‑877‑UNITHER (1‑877‑864‑8437).

OREISIconOCT19