Vasaprostane

The medicinal drug Vasaprostan can be classified as an antispasmodic agent that helps relax the smooth muscles of the walls of blood supplying vessels.

Indications Vasaprostane

The following possible indications for the use of the drug Vasoprostan are identified:

• severe forms of obliterating arterial pathology (stage III or IV according to Fontaine classification);
• intermittent claudication syndrome due to endarteritis in the vessels of the legs (in cases where surgical intervention is impossible for some reason);
• diabetic angiopathy;
• manifestations of Raynaud's syndrome or disease;
• systemic vasculitis;
• in palliative treatment of patients with so-called ductus-dependent heart defects.

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Release form

Vasaprostan is available in ampoules with a lyophilisate for making a solution - this is a white hygroscopic mass consisting of alprostadil (clathrate complex and alphadex). Lactose is presented as an additional substance.

The cardboard package contains 10 ampoules with lyophilisate.

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Pharmacodynamics

The active substance of the drug is an analogue of natural PGE1. This determines the vasodilating, antiaggregating and angioprotective properties of the drug.

Vasodilation processes occur in arterioles. Microcirculation and dynamics of collateral circulation are activated.

The degree of general peripheral resistance decreases, the periodicity of contractions of the heart muscle and cardiac output increase. Arterial pressure indicators do not increase.

The effect of the drug Vasaprostan on the rheological properties of blood is based on improving its quality, reducing platelet adhesion and increasing erythrocyte elasticity.

Vasaprostan gently stimulates the activity of the muscle fibers of the uterus, smooth muscles of the intestine and bladder.

Pharmacokinetics

Intravenous infusion of Vasaprostan provides for reaching a therapeutic level in the blood within two to three minutes, and the maximum concentration within 1.5 to 2 hours.

Metabolic processes occur in the lung tissue, where various active and inactive forms of metabolites are formed, which are then excreted through the kidneys and partly the liver.

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Dosing and administration

Preparation of the solution should begin immediately before administration. The powder should dissolve immediately after adding the saline solution. Sometimes some turbidity may appear in the solution, which will soon disappear.

It is not allowed to use a solution that was diluted more than 12 hours ago.

• Intra-arterial infusion – the substance from one ampoule is diluted in 50 ml of saline. After that, half of the ampoule is administered intra-arterially using a device for intra-arterial infusion. In severe endarteritis, with the development of necrotic tissue damage, the dosage can be increased to one ampoule (20 mcg). The solution is administered gradually, over one to two hours, once a day.
• Intravenous infusion – requires dissolving two ampoules (40 mcg) of the drug in saline (50 to 250 ml). The solution is administered very gradually, over two hours, usually twice a day. Sometimes the following administration scheme is used: three ampoules (60 mcg) are administered over three hours once a day.

The duration of therapy is about two weeks. The doctor may prescribe continuation of treatment for up to one month (if necessary). If the use of the drug for 14 days does not bring the desired effect, the drug is discontinued due to its inappropriateness.

For patients with impaired renal function, the drug should be started with 20 mcg (1 time per day), gradually increasing the dosage if necessary.

In case of heart and kidney pathologies, the amount of physiological solution for diluting the drug is reduced to 50-150 ml. For such patients, the treatment course should last at least one month.

Vasaprostan therapy is carried out along with constant monitoring of blood pressure, pulse rate, and blood clotting characteristics.

Treatment of patients with Vasaprostan is usually carried out in a hospital.

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Use Vasaprostane during pregnancy

Treatment with the drug Vasaprostan is prohibited during pregnancy.

If treatment occurs during the period of breastfeeding, the child should be transferred to artificial formula.

Contraindications

Among the contraindications to the use of the drug Vasaprostan are the following:

• decompensated stage of chronic heart failure;
• cardiac conduction disorders;
• acute stage of ischemic heart disease;
• history of myocardial infarction within the last six months;
• signs of pulmonary edema, as well as infiltrative pathologies of the lung tissue;
• pulmonary obstruction;
• impaired functional capacity of the liver, previous liver pathologies;
• concomitant diseases with an increased risk of bleeding (gastrointestinal ulcers, damage to the vascular walls in the brain, traumatic injuries, diagnosed cases of proliferative retinopathy);
• simultaneous treatment with anticoagulant and vasodilator medications;
• the entire period of pregnancy;
• breastfeeding a child;
• childhood;
• allergic sensitivity to any of the components of the drug.

Taking the drug Vasaprostan requires caution in case of low blood pressure, in patients with signs of heart failure, with type I diabetes mellitus, and also during hemodialysis.

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Side effects Vasaprostane

Side effects from the use of the drug Vasaprostan may be the following:

• migraine, convulsions, decreased performance, weakness, skin sensitivity disorders;
• hypotension, pain in the heart area, arrhythmia, signs of AV block;
• nausea, upset stomach, feeling of discomfort in the stomach;
• allergy in the form of an itchy skin rash;
• redness, swelling, phlebitis at the injection site;
• increased sweating, fever, swelling;
• joint pain, fever, kidney dysfunction, pulmonary edema.

Less frequently, the development of shock, bleeding, development of cardiac and renal failure, hematuria, and respiratory disorders may be observed.

The listed side effects are reversible and usually disappear after reducing the dosage or discontinuing the drug.

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Overdose

Symptoms of drug overdose:

• hypotension;
• tachycardia;
• paleness of the skin;
• increased sweating;
• attacks of nausea.

Such signs may occur along with ischemia of the heart muscle and symptoms of heart failure.

At the initial signs of overdose, the dose of Vasaprostan should be reduced or treatment should be discontinued. In case of a significant deterioration in health, symptomatic therapy with sympathomimetics is recommended.

Interactions with other drugs

Concomitant use of Vasoprostan enhances the effect of drugs that lower blood pressure, dilate peripheral vessels, and treat angina.

The use of the drug along with blood thinners and anticoagulants increases the risk of bleeding.

The vasodilatory properties of adrenaline or noradrenaline may be impaired when taken together with Vasaprostan.

Such interactions have been observed in cases where the listed drugs were used immediately before or during therapy with Vasaprostan.

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Storage conditions

The medicine Vasaprostan should be stored in a place inaccessible to children, at room temperature.

If the powder inside the ampoule has become significantly smaller and has stuck together, it means the ampoule is damaged. It is unacceptable to use such a drug.

Shelf life

The shelf life of Vasaprostan is up to 4 years.