What is Vericiguat: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects and More

Vericiguat is a prescription medication that helps treat heart failure by making it easier for your heart to pump blood throughout your body. This relatively new heart medication works by helping your blood vessels relax and improving blood flow, which can reduce the strain on your weakened heart muscle.

What is Vericiguat?

Vericiguat is a heart medication that belongs to a class of drugs called soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators. It's specifically designed to help people with chronic heart failure who still have symptoms despite taking other heart medications.

Think of vericiguat as a helper that makes your heart's job easier. When your heart isn't pumping as well as it should, this medication helps your blood vessels stay more relaxed and open. This allows blood to flow more smoothly, reducing the extra work your heart has to do.

The medication was approved by the FDA in 2021, making it one of the newer options available for heart failure treatment. It's typically prescribed when other standard heart failure medications aren't providing enough relief from symptoms.

What is Vericiguat Used For?

Vericiguat is primarily used to treat chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction in adults. This means your heart isn't pumping out enough blood with each heartbeat, and you've likely been hospitalized recently for worsening heart failure symptoms.

Your doctor might consider vericiguat if you're still experiencing symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, or swelling despite taking other heart medications like ACE inhibitors or beta-blockers. It's not a replacement for these medications but rather an additional treatment to help manage your condition.

The medication is specifically intended for people who have been hospitalized for heart failure or have received intravenous diuretics for heart failure within the past six months. This helps ensure it's used for patients who truly need this additional level of support.

How Does Vericiguat Work?

Vericiguat works by stimulating an enzyme system in your blood vessels and heart called soluble guanylate cyclase. This enzyme helps produce a chemical messenger that tells your blood vessels to relax and widen.

When your blood vessels are more relaxed, blood can flow more easily through them. This reduces the pressure your heart has to work against when pumping blood, making each heartbeat more effective. The medication also helps improve the heart muscle's ability to relax between beats.

This is considered a moderately strong heart medication that works differently from traditional heart failure drugs. While it's not as intensive as some intravenous heart medications used in hospitals, it provides meaningful support for people with ongoing heart failure symptoms.

How Should I Take Vericiguat?

Take vericiguat exactly as your doctor prescribes, usually once daily with food. Taking it with food helps your body absorb the medication more effectively and can reduce the chance of stomach upset.

You can take vericiguat with any meal of the day, but try to take it at the same time each day to maintain steady levels in your blood. If you have trouble swallowing tablets, you can crush the tablet and mix it with water or applesauce, but consume the mixture immediately.

Don't stop taking vericiguat suddenly, even if you feel better. Your heart needs consistent support, and stopping abruptly could worsen your heart failure symptoms. Always talk with your doctor before making any changes to your medication routine.

How Long Should I Take Vericiguat For?

Vericiguat is typically a long-term medication that you'll likely take for an extended period, possibly for the rest of your life. Heart failure is a chronic condition that requires ongoing management, and vericiguat helps provide that continuous support.

Your doctor will monitor how well the medication is working for you through regular check-ups and tests. They'll assess your symptoms, check your blood pressure, and may order blood tests to ensure the medication is helping without causing problems.

Some people start to notice improvements in their energy levels and breathing within a few weeks, but the full benefits may take several months to become apparent. Your doctor will adjust your treatment plan based on how you respond to the medication.

What Are the Side Effects of Vericiguat?

Like all medications, vericiguat can cause side effects, though many people tolerate it well. The most common side effect is low blood pressure, which might make you feel dizzy or lightheaded, especially when standing up quickly.

Here are the more common side effects you might experience:

• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Low blood pressure
• Nausea or stomach discomfort
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Diarrhea

These side effects are usually mild and often improve as your body adjusts to the medication. If they persist or become bothersome, let your doctor know so they can help you manage them.

Less common but more serious side effects can include severe drops in blood pressure that cause fainting, irregular heartbeat, or worsening heart failure symptoms. While these are rare, it's important to contact your doctor immediately if you experience severe dizziness, chest pain, or sudden worsening of breathing problems.

Who Should Not Take Vericiguat?

Vericiguat isn't suitable for everyone with heart failure. You shouldn't take this medication if you have severely low blood pressure, as it can make this condition worse and potentially dangerous.

Your doctor will carefully evaluate whether vericiguat is right for you if you have certain conditions. People with severe kidney problems may need dose adjustments or might not be candidates for this medication at all.

You should also avoid vericiguat if you're taking certain medications that interact with it, particularly some drugs used for pulmonary hypertension. Always tell your doctor about all medications, supplements, and herbal products you're taking before starting vericiguat.

Pregnant women and those planning to become pregnant should discuss the risks and benefits with their doctor, as the safety of vericiguat during pregnancy hasn't been fully established.

Vericiguat Brand Name

Vericiguat is sold under the brand name Verquvo in the United States. This is the only brand name currently available for this medication, as it's still relatively new and protected by patents.

When your doctor prescribes vericiguat, they may write either "vericiguat" or "Verquvo" on your prescription. Both refer to the same medication, so don't worry if you see either name on your prescription bottle or insurance paperwork.

The medication comes in different strengths, and your doctor will determine which dose is right for you based on your specific condition and how you respond to treatment.

Vericiguat Alternatives

If vericiguat isn't right for you, several other medications can help manage heart failure. Traditional options include ACE inhibitors, ARBs (angiotensin receptor blockers), and beta-blockers, which are often the first-line treatments for heart failure.

Newer alternatives include medications like sacubitril/valsartan (Entresto), which combines two different mechanisms to help the heart. There's also ivabradine (Corlanor), which helps slow the heart rate in certain patients, and SGLT2 inhibitors, which were originally diabetes medications but have shown heart benefits.

Your doctor will work with you to find the best combination of medications for your specific situation. Many people with heart failure take multiple medications that work together to provide the best possible outcomes.

Is Vericiguat Better Than Sacubitril/Valsartan?

Vericiguat and sacubitril/valsartan (Entresto) are both important medications for heart failure, but they work in different ways and are often used for different situations. Neither is necessarily "better" than the other - they're simply different tools in treating heart failure.

Sacubitril/valsartan is typically used earlier in heart failure treatment and has been shown to significantly reduce hospitalizations and deaths from heart failure. It's often considered a first-line treatment for many people with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Vericiguat is generally reserved for people who continue to have symptoms despite taking other heart failure medications, including sacubitril/valsartan. In some cases, people might take both medications together under careful medical supervision.

Your doctor will determine which medication or combination of medications is best for your specific situation based on your symptoms, other health conditions, and how you've responded to previous treatments.