PPH NEWS is an education-based resource site that provides information on the health issues surrounding Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH), including what it is, the symptoms, diagnoses, and treatment options.
This website also provides resource to learn more about your legal rights and remedies if you or someone you know has developed PPH due to the use of diet drugs such as Fen Phen.

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Flolan

Approved by the FDA in 1995 for the treatment of PPH, Flolan, or epoprostenol, is extremely effective in opening up blood vessels in the lungs and throughout the body. Flolan is a form of a naturally occurring molecule in the human body called prostaglandin. Using Flolan prevents blood clots by removing the buildup of lipids, and lowering blood pressure. A dose of Flolan lasts only three to five minutes, so users receive the medication intravenously through a catheter connected to a pump that continuously infuses the lungs with Flolan. Patients must wear a battery operated backpack or bag that keeps the drug at the proper temperature; Flolan is very sensitive to heat and sunlight. Patients who undergo Flolan therapy can extend their life expectancy by three to five years or more.

Although currently the only treatment for PPH with full FDA approval, Flolan has several drawbacks. First, the drug, while extremely effective, must be constantly replaced in the bloodstream. Flolan is a lifelong therapy that cannot be interrupted—even a brief interruption of the infusion of Flolan can result in a sudden reoccurrence of symptoms. The system used to deliver Flolan requires careful maintenance and special training, including home health care services to learn about administering this treatment. Flolan is extremely expensive, with the average course of treatment costing well over $100,000 annually. Flolan side effects include jaw pain, headache, flushing, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. The indwelling catheter used to deliver Flolan is permanently inserted into the neck or chest, and requires a high degree of maintenance, since infections can be serious.

Flolan offers hope to many PPH patients, especially those waiting for a lung transplant. Although treatment with Flolan is a complicated, expensive, and somewhat risky procedure, the potential to gain a few years may mean the difference between death and a lifesaving lung transplant. Alternatives to Flolan such as Tracleer (bosentan) and Remodulin (UT-15) may soon replace this treatment, and in the meantime, PPH victims may be able to recover the costs of Flolan treatment from the manufacturers of diet drugs such as Fen Phen. If you or a loved one is currently taking Flolan for PPH that you believe may be linked to the use of diet drugs, contact an attorney to learn more about your legal rights.

Learn More about these medications used to treat Pulmonary Hypertension:

» Tracleer
» Remodulin
» Flolan

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