Nesiritide (Systemic)

Brand Names : Natrecor®

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For nesiritide, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to nesiritide. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Studies on effects in pregnancy have not been done in either humans or animals.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether nesiritide passes into the breast milk.

Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of nesiritide in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults - This medicine has been tested and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking nesiritide, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking the following:

• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (oral) (Benazepril [e.g., Lotensin], captopril [e.g., Capoten], enalapril [e.g., Vasotec], fosinopril [e.g., Monopril], lisinopril [e.g., Prinivil], moexipril [e.g., Univasc], perindopril [e.g., Aceon], quinapril [e.g., Accupril], ramipril [e.g., Altace], trandolapril [e.g., Mavik]) - These medicines may increase the chance of hypotension (low blood pressure)

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of nesiritide. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Heart disease (other than congestive heart failure) - Nesiritide may make heart problems worse

• Low blood pressure - Nesiritide may make this condition worse