Tyvaso

The following potential approaches to managing the most common side effects with Tyvaso are based on anecdotal evidence and should not be construed as medical advice. United Therapeutics does not recommend or endorse using healthcare products other than as directed or prescribed.

Talk with your doctor or nurse about the things you can do to help manage side effects, such as, if you develop a cough or throat irritation.

Before Treatment:

• Try an over-the-counter cough medicine to help reduce cough
• Use a throat spray to numb your throat
• Try drinking cold or hot water

During Treatment:

• Avoid holding your breath once you inhale

After Treatment:

• Rinse mouth with water (do not swallow the water)

Your doctor may also recommend taking fewer breaths until your cough improves, so make sure you talk to your doctor.

• The prescription is filled out on a form called a Referral. The physician will sign the form and it gets faxed to the manufacturers’ “Hub”. You may be asked to sign the form, as well.
• Once the Hub receives the referral, they will verify your benefits with your current insurance. This helps them know which Specialty Pharmacy is in network with your insurance. The Hub will fax our office a Prior Authorization for the medication. Every Specialty Medication requires a Prior Authorization.
• Prior Authorization is submitted to your insurance and they will review to see if it meets their criteria for approval. The process can take up to a couple of weeks depending on your insurance. If for some reason the insurance decides not to approve your medication, we will look to see why they made this decision and try to appeal this decision.
• It is possible that your insurance will require a copay. In the case the copay is significant and you cannot afford the amount, you can ask special foundations for copay assistance. Non-Medicare patients can directly apply for assistance from the drug company manufacturing the drug. You will find more information in the Financial Assistance tab of this web page. Your physician’s office can also guide you in this matter. In spite of sometimes a hefty copay, through a variety of channels, patients usually are able to afford these specialty drugs- it does take some work by you to apply. You may receive phone calls during this time from the hub, the pharmacy, the drug company or assistance foundations to verify your income and assets. Please cooperate with them, they just want to help!
• Once the medication is approved, the Specialty Pharmacy will be ready to ship it to you. You will receive a phone call from the Hub and/or from the Specialty Pharmacy. These will likely be 1-800 numbers. You have to answer the phone in order for them to be able to ship your medication to you. Please call them back. The medication will be mailed to your home address. Some medications require that a nurse from the Specialty Pharmacy visit you while you are taking the medication, your clinician will discuss this in detail if it applies to you.
• You should work with all members of your Care Team during this process. This includes your physician, office nurse, Specialty Pharmacy staff (Pharmacist and Nurse).

• The Program is valid only for patients with commercial (also known as private) insurance who are taking the medication for an FDA approved indication
• Patients using Medicare, Medicaid, or any other state or federal government program to pay for their medications are not eligible

Non-profit charitable assistance funds:

We maintain an updated list and verify if funding is available on a weekly basis.

For Medicare and Medicaid patients, the following foundations may be able to assist with copay support. It may take some work by you to apply. Your physician’s office, the Hub or specialty pharmacy contacts may help you through this. (See Starting a New Medication Tab)

Click here to see foundations.
 

• Tyvaso Support Program
  Get patient tips, lifestyle suggestions, and more
• Peer Network: Meet others with the condition
• United Therapeutics (Manufacturer’s information on PAH)
• Patient Support Groups
  Through Pulmonary Hypertension Association, find a support group close to you