Levosimendan

Description

Levosimendan is used in the treatment of acutely decompensated heart failure (ADHF) in patients who are not responding to conventional therapy. This medicine is not recommended for use in children below 18 years of age.

Side effects

Major & minor side effects for Levosimendan

  • Sleeplessness
  • Fast heartbeat
  • Low blood pressure
  • Nausea
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Decreased potassium levels

Uses of Levosimendan

What is it prescribed for?

  • Acute Decompensated heart failure
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Concerns

Commonly asked questions

  • Onset of action
    The amount of time required for this medicine to show its action is not clinically established.
  • Duration of effect
    The amount of time for which this medicine remains active in the body is not clinically established.
  • Safe with alcohol?
    Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
  • Is it habit forming?
    No habit-forming tendencies were reported.
  • Usage in pregnancy?
    This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.
  • Usage while breast-feeding?
    This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.

Allergy

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known allergy to Levosimendan or any other inactive ingredients present along with it.

Severe renal impairment

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with severe kidney impairment due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition.

Severe Hepatic impairment

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with severe liver impairment due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition.

Hypotension

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with severe hypotension (low blood pressure) due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition.

Tachycardia

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with abnormal tachycardia (Increased heart rate) due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition.

Torsades de Pointes

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with Torsades de Pointes (a specific form of abnormal heart rhythm) due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition.
Warnings for special population

Pregnancy

This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.

Breast-feeding

This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.
General warnings

Kidney impairment

This medicine should be used with caution in patients with mild to moderately impaired kidney function due to the increased risk of severe adverse effects. Close monitoring of kidney function, appropriate dose adjustments, or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition of the patient. This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with severe kidney impairment.

Liver impairment

This medicine should be used with caution in patients with mild to moderately impaired liver function due to the increased risk of severe adverse effects. Close monitoring of liver function, appropriate dose adjustments, or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition of the patient. This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with severe liver impairment.

Monitoring

Regular monitoring of blood pressure, heart rate, ECG should be done during the treatment with this medicine and for 3 days after the end of infusion. In patients with mild to moderate liver or kidney impairment, the monitoring should be done for at least 5 days.

Use in children

This medicine is not recommended for use in children below 18 years of age since the safety and efficacy of use are not clinically established.

Hypovolemia

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with hypovolemia (low blood volume) due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition. It should be corrected with appropriate measures before the initiating therapy with this medicine.

Hypokalemia

This medicine may lower the blood potassium levels and hence should be used with extreme caution in patients with hypokalemia (low blood potassium levels), since it may worsen the patient's condition. Therefore it is recommended to correct the low blood potassium levels with appropriate measures before the initiating therapy with this medicine. Close monitoring of blood potassium levels is necessary while receiving this medicine.

Missed Dose

Since this medicine is usually administered by a qualified healthcare professional in the clinical/hospital setting, the likelihood of a missed dose is very low.

Overdose

Since this medicine is administered in the hospital setting by a qualified healthcare professional, the likelihood of an overdose is very less. However, emergency medical treatment will be initiated by the doctor if an overdose is suspected.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol

Description

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.

Instructions

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine

Intravenous Vasoactive Agents

Disease interactions

Disease

Information not available.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
This medicine is usually administered in the clinical/hospital setting under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional. Follow all the instructions given by your doctor. Inform the doctor if you have a known allergy to this medicine. Report all your current medicines as well as your medical conditions to the doctor before receiving this medicine.
Miscelleneous

Usage does not depend on food timings

To be taken as instructed by doctor

Does not cause sleepiness

How it works
It works by increasing the contractility of the heart and also relaxes the blood vessels.
Legal Status

Approved

Unknown

Unknown

Unknown

Classification

Category

Vasodilators, Cardiac Stimulant

Schedule

Schedule H

Levosimendan - DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2018 [cited 26 September 2018]. Available from:

https://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB00922

Levosimendan [Internet]. Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2018 [cited 26 September 2018]. Available from:

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/levosimendan

[Internet]. Mri.cts-mrp.eu. 2018 [cited 26 September 2018]. Available from:

http://mri.cts-mrp.eu/download/AT_H_0577_001_FinalPL.pdf

[Internet]. Simdax.com. 2018 [cited 26 September 2018]. Available from:

https://www.simdax.com/siteassets/simdax-spc.pdf

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Information on this page was last updated on 12 Apr 2019

Disclaimer

We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.