Brand Name of Tadalafil for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
The brand name of tadalafil for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is ADCIRCA. 1
Background on Tadalafil in PAH
Tadalafil is a selective phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitor (PDE-5i) that has been approved for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. It works by inhibiting the enzyme that degrades cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), thereby enhancing the nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation in the pulmonary vasculature 2. In addition to its vasodilatory effects, tadalafil also exerts antiproliferative effects on the pulmonary vasculature 2.
Clinical Evidence for Tadalafil in PAH
Tadalafil's efficacy in PAH was established in the PHIRST (Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Response to Tadalafil) trial, a randomized controlled trial involving 406 PAH patients 2. This study demonstrated that:
- Tadalafil 40 mg once daily significantly improved exercise capacity with a mean placebo-corrected increase in 6-minute walk distance of 33 meters 3
- The medication improved time to clinical worsening compared to placebo
- Patients experienced improvements in hemodynamic parameters
- Health-related quality of life scores showed significant improvement 4
Dosing Information
- The recommended dose for PAH is 40 mg taken once daily 2, 3
- Tadalafil can be taken with or without food 1
- The long half-life of 17.5 hours makes it suitable for once-daily dosing 5, 6
Important Clinical Considerations
- Tadalafil should not be used concurrently with nitrates due to the risk of severe hypotension 1
- The combination of tadalafil with riociguat (a guanylate cyclase stimulator) is contraindicated 1
- Patients should be advised not to take both tadalafil tablets and ADCIRCA, as they contain the same active ingredient 1
- Common side effects include headache, flushing, dyspepsia, and epistaxis, which are generally mild to moderate in intensity 2, 3
Comparison to Other PDE-5 Inhibitors
Unlike sildenafil (another PDE-5i used in PAH), which requires dosing three times daily, tadalafil's longer half-life allows for convenient once-daily administration 2, 5. This may improve medication adherence for patients with PAH, who often require multiple medications as part of their treatment regimen.
Remember that while tadalafil is also marketed under the brand name Cialis for erectile dysfunction, ADCIRCA is the specific brand name for its use in pulmonary arterial hypertension 1.