Verquvo interactions: Alcohol, medications, and other factors

Before you start treatment with Verquvo, tell your doctor and pharmacist which prescription, over-the-counter, and other medications you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Verquvo interacts with supplements, herbs, or vitamins, see the “Verquvo and other interactions” section below.)

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Here’s a table of drugs that can interact with Verquvo. Keep in mind that this table doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with Verquvo. Some of these interactions are described in detail just below in “Drug interactions in depth.”

In some cases, factors or conditions could prevent your doctor from prescribing Verquvo due to the risk of harm. These are known as contraindications. The contraindications of Verquvo include:

Taking another guanylate cyclase stimulator

Verquvo belongs to a class of drugs called guanylate cyclase stimulators. Doctors typically will not prescribe Verquvo in combination with other drugs from this class. Examples include riociguat (Adempas), which is used to treat pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the artery that carries blood from your heart to your lungs).

Taking Verquvo with another guanylate cyclase stimulator can cause low blood pressure.

If you take a medication of this type, talk with your doctor about your treatment options.

Are pregnant or may become pregnant

Doctors typically won’t prescribe Verquvo during pregnancy. They’re also unlikely to prescribe the drug for this use if you’re able to become pregnant and not using effective birth control.

This is because Verquvo may not be safe to take during pregnancy. In fact, the drug has a boxed warning about the risk of fetal harm. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. For details, see “Boxed warning” at the beginning of this article.

For treatment of heart failure during pregnancy, your doctor can recommend a different treatment that’s safe for use in pregnancy. If you’re able to become pregnant, your doctor can advise you on birth control options to use while taking Verquvo for heart failure.

Note: Before you start treatment with Verquvo, it’s important to tell your doctor if these contraindications apply to you. They can determine whether to prescribe Verquvo.

There aren’t any known interactions between Verquvo and alcohol. However, your doctor may advise you to avoid or limit alcohol consumption during Verquvo treatment.

This is because Verquvo can cause low blood pressure, which could make you feel dizzy. Drinking alcohol while taking the drug may raise your risk of this side effect.

If you have questions about drinking alcohol while taking Verquvo, talk with your doctor.

Here’s a closer look at certain drug interactions of Verquvo.

Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors

Verquvo can interact with phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors. Drugs from this class are prescribed to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the artery that carries blood from your heart to your lungs).

Interaction result: Taking Verquvo with a PDE5 inhibitor can cause low blood pressure.

Interaction explained: Verquvo and PDE5 inhibitors can both cause low blood pressure. So taking them together can raise your risk of this side effect.

Examples of PDE5 inhibitor drugs: Here are some PDE5 inhibitors that may interact with Verquvo:

• avanafil (Stendra)
• sildenafil (Viagra, Revatio)
• tadalafil (Cialis, Adcirca)
• vardenafil

Steps you or your doctor may take: Your doctor will likely avoid prescribing Verquvo with a PDE5 inhibitor. You can talk with them about other treatment options for your condition.

Verquvo may have other interactions, such as with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. You’ll find details below. Keep in mind that the following information does not include all other possible interactions with Verquvo.

Verquvo and supplements

It’s possible for drugs to interact with supplements such as vitamins and herbs.

Verquvo and herbs

There are no specific reports of herbs interacting with Verquvo. However, that doesn’t mean herbal interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, it’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products during Verquvo treatment.

Verquvo and vitamins

There are no specific reports of vitamins interacting with Verquvo. However, that doesn’t mean vitamin interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any vitamin product with Verquvo.

Verquvo and food

There were no reports of food interactions with Verquvo. If you’d like to learn more about eating certain foods during treatment with Verquvo, talk with your doctor.

Verquvo interactions with vaccines

There aren’t any known interactions between Verquvo and vaccines. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn whether you’re due for any vaccines.

Verquvo and lab tests

Verquvo isn’t known to interact with any lab tests. If you have concerns about this medication interacting with lab tests, talk with your doctor.

VERQUVO INTERACTION WITH CANNABIS OR CBD

Cannabis (often called marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have not been specifically reported to interact with Verquvo. However, as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis in combination with Verquvo. The impact of cannabis may affect how well you stick to your Verquvo treatment plan.

Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.

Certain medical conditions and other factors may increase the risk of interactions with Verquvo. Before you take this drug, be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history. Verquvo may not be the right treatment option if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.

Health conditions or factors that might interact with Verquvo include:

• Kidney or liver problems: Verquvo hasn’t been studied in people with severe kidney or liver problems. If you have severe liver or kidney problems, talk with your doctor about whether this medication is right for you.
• Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Verquvo or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Verquvo. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
• Breastfeeding: Verquvo may not be safe to take while breastfeeding. Your doctor will likely recommend that you do not breastfeed while taking Verquvo. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before using Verquvo. They can talk with you about treatment options and ways to feed your child.
• Pregnancy: Verquvo may not be safe to take during pregnancy. In fact, the drug has a boxed warning about the risk of fetal harm. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. For details, see “Boxed warning” at the beginning of this article. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, tell your doctor before starting Verquvo. They can advise you on the right treatment plan for you.

You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Verquvo. Your doctor and pharmacist are key resources, so reach out to them before starting treatment. For example, you should plan to do the following:

• Let them know if you drink alcohol or use cannabis.
• Tell them about any other medications you take, as well as any supplements, herbs, and vitamins.
• Create a medication list, which your doctor and pharmacist can help you fill out.

It’s also important to read the Verquvo label and other paperwork that may come with the drug. The label may have colored stickers that mention an interaction. And the paperwork, sometimes called the medication guide or patient package insert, may contain details about interactions.

If Verquvo doesn’t come with paperwork, you can ask your pharmacist to print a copy. If you need help reading or understanding this information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

You can also help prevent interactions with Verquvo by taking it exactly as your doctor prescribes.

Besides learning about interactions, you may want to find out more about Verquvo. These resources might help:

• Overview of Verquvo: For a general overview of Verquvo, you can see this article.
• Side effects: If you’re interested in the side effects of Verquvo, see this article. Another option is to refer to the Verquvo prescribing information.
• Dosage specifics: To learn about the dosage of Verquvo, see this article.
• Facts about your condition: To learn more about chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, see our cardiovascular health hub.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.