Nesiritide (Intravenous)
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 19, 2022.
Commonly used brand name(s)
In the U.S.
- Natrecor
Pharmacologic Class: Natriuretic Peptide
Uses for nesiritide
Nesiritide is used for patients who have severe congestive heart failure that has recently become worse. Nesiritide is for patients who are short of breath while at rest or with minimal activity.
Before using nesiritide
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 or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Studies on nesiritide 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.
Geriatric
Nesiritide has been tested and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.
Breastfeeding
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Interactions with 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 healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using nesiritide with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Benazepril
- Captopril
- Enalapril
- Enalaprilat
- Fosinopril
- Lisinopril
- Moexipril
- Perindopril
- Quinapril
- Ramipril
- Trandolapril
- Zofenopril
Interactions with food/tobacco/alcohol
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
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.
