Category: Pulmonary medicine

Over the last decade, antifibrotic medications have emerged as a standard of care for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), significantly slowing disease progression. For patients and clinicians facing this decision, understanding **which one is better, pirfenidone or nintedanib**, involves a detailed analysis of their distinct mechanisms, efficacy, and side effect profiles. Since no head-to-head trials have definitively proven one superior, the choice is highly individualized.

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are estimated to be the third leading cause of death in the United States, following heart disease and cancer. A significant and often under-recognized subset of these reactions involves the respiratory system. The question, "Can the lungs be affected by ADRs?" is therefore crucial for patient safety, as many common medications can lead to a spectrum of pulmonary disorders, from temporary inflammation to irreversible scarring.

Adempas (riociguat) was the first member of a new drug class known as soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators to receive FDA approval in 2013. This medication is used to treat adults with two specific types of high blood pressure in the lungs: chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Remodulin is a specialized medication primarily used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a rare but serious condition. As a **prostacyclin analog**, it mimics a naturally occurring substance in the body to widen blood vessels in the lungs and reduce the workload on the heart. This powerful therapy is often reserved for patients with more severe symptoms.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a chronic, progressive disease characterized by elevated blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs. Approved by the FDA in 2007, LETAIRIS, also known by its active ingredient ambrisentan, offers a targeted approach to managing this serious condition. But **what does LETAIRIS do** to alleviate the symptoms and slow the progression of PAH?