Apply for Adempas (Riociguat) Copay Assistance

Adempas copay assistance is any help that lowers what you pay at the pharmacy for Adempas or generic riociguat. That help can come from a manufacturer copay card, a patient assistance program, or a foundation grant. QuickRx patient navigators check which of these you qualify for and apply on your behalf, so you do not have to sort through the paperwork alone. Eligible patients may pay $0. Call (917) 830-2525 to get started.

Eligibility depends on the type of help. Manufacturer copay cards are generally for patients with commercial (private or employer) insurance. Patient assistance programs usually look at household income and insurance status. Foundation grants are often open to patients with Medicare when a fund for their condition is accepting applications. Each sponsor sets its own rules, so not every patient qualifies for every option. Our navigators review your insurance and situation and tell you what fits.

No. There is never any cost for QuickRx’s copay assistance services. Our navigators screen you for every option, prepare and submit the applications, and follow up with administrators on your behalf at no charge. You can start with our copay assistance form or call (917) 830-2525.

Yes. Generic riociguat is available in the United States in the same strengths as Adempas: 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.5 mg, 2 mg and 2.5 mg tablets, according to Lexidrug. Whether your plan covers the brand or the generic depends on your insurance. QuickRx can help with copay assistance for either one and coordinate with your prescriber and insurer.

Manufacturer copay cards cannot be used by patients with Medicare, Medicaid or other government insurance. Medicare patients still have options. Medicare Part D has a yearly out-of-pocket limit for covered drugs, and Extra Help can lower drug costs for people with limited income (see Medicare.gov). Foundation grants may also help when a fund for pulmonary hypertension is open. Our navigators check every option that applies to you.

Adempas (riociguat) is a prescription medicine for adults with two types of high blood pressure in the lungs. It treats pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH, WHO Group 1) to improve exercise capacity and functional class and to delay clinical worsening. It also treats chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH, WHO Group 4) that is inoperable or that persists or comes back after surgery. Source: Lexidrug and the FDA prescribing information.

Adempas belongs to a class of medicines called soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators. It makes the body’s sGC enzyme more sensitive to nitric oxide and also stimulates the enzyme directly. This raises cGMP, which relaxes and widens the blood vessels in the lungs. Source: Lexidrug.

Adempas is a tablet taken by mouth 3 times a day, with or without food. According to Lexidrug, treatment usually starts at 1 mg 3 times a day (or 0.5 mg 3 times a day in patients at higher risk of low blood pressure), and the dose may be increased by 0.5 mg every 2 weeks or more, up to 2.5 mg 3 times a day. If you cannot swallow tablets whole, they may be crushed and mixed with water or a soft food like applesauce right before taking. If treatment is stopped for 3 days or more, your doctor will need to restart the dose slowly. Always take Adempas exactly as prescribed and never change your dose without talking to your prescriber.

Adempas has a boxed warning for embryo-fetal toxicity. It must not be used during pregnancy because it may harm an unborn baby. Pregnancy must be ruled out before starting treatment, and patients who can become pregnant should use effective birth control before, during and for 1 month after treatment. If pregnancy happens, Adempas should be stopped as soon as possible. Source: Lexidrug and the FDA prescribing information.

According to Lexidrug, Adempas should not be used during pregnancy, or together with nitrates or nitric oxide donors (such as amyl nitrite), PDE-5 inhibitors (such as sildenafil, tadalafil or vardenafil), nonspecific PDE inhibitors (such as dipyridamole or theophylline), or other sGC stimulators (such as vericiguat). It is also not used for pulmonary hypertension linked to idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. Tell your doctor about every medicine you take.

The most common side effects reported in Lexidrug are headache (27%), dizziness (20%), indigestion or stomach irritation (up to 21%), nausea (14%), diarrhea (12%), vomiting (10%) and low blood pressure (10%). Less common side effects include anemia, constipation and acid reflux. Serious bleeding has been reported in about 2% of patients, including coughing up blood. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of bleeding, severe dizziness or fainting, or swelling in your arms or legs.

Smoking lowers the amount of riociguat in the blood by about 50% to 60%, according to Lexidrug. Your doctor may adjust your dose if you smoke, and may need to lower it if you quit while on treatment. Let your care team know about any change in your smoking.

Lexidrug lists no dose changes for mild to moderate kidney problems (CrCl 15 mL/minute or higher) or for mild to moderate liver problems (Child-Pugh A or B). Adempas is not recommended for people with CrCl below 15 mL/minute, people on dialysis, or people with severe liver problems (Child-Pugh C), because it has not been studied in those groups. Older adults have higher exposure to riociguat, so it is used with caution.

Yes. Besides the medicines it must never be combined with, several others need extra care. Antacids can lower riociguat levels, so Lexidrug advises taking them at least 1 hour apart from Adempas. Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors combined with P-gp or BCRP inhibitors can raise riociguat levels and may call for a lower starting dose. Medicines that lower blood pressure can add to its effect. When switching from sildenafil, stop it at least 24 hours before Adempas; from tadalafil, at least 48 hours before. Your prescriber and pharmacist should review your full medication list.

Your care team will check your blood pressure and watch for signs of low blood pressure, bleeding and swelling, along with how well your breathing and exercise tolerance improve. Patients who can become pregnant need a pregnancy test before starting. Adempas should be managed by a doctor who specializes in pulmonary hypertension. Source: Lexidrug.

Store Adempas tablets at room temperature, 77°F (25°C), with short trips between 59°F and 86°F (15°C to 30°C) allowed, according to Lexidrug. Keep the medicine in its original container and away from children and pets. An FDA Medication Guide comes with every prescription; read it each time you fill.

QuickRx is a URAC- and ACHC-accredited specialty pharmacy licensed in all 50 states, with free nationwide delivery. Our patient navigators handle copay assistance from start to finish: checking your benefits, applying on your behalf, managing renewals and keeping your prescriber in the loop. You get one point of contact for your Adempas prescription and the help to pay for it. Call (917) 830-2525 or fill out our copay assistance form.