Janssen Submits New Drug Application (NDA) to US FDA for UPTRAVI® (selexipag) Injection for Intravenous Use to Treat Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) - PRNewswire
Janssen Submits New Drug Application (NDA) to US FDA for UPTRAVI® (selexipag) Injection for Intravenous Use to Treat Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) - PRNewswire |
- Janssen Submits New Drug Application (NDA) to US FDA for UPTRAVI® (selexipag) Injection for Intravenous Use to Treat Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) - PRNewswire
- Insmed Highlights Progress Across Portfolio and Outlines Growth Strategy at R&D Day - Odessa American
- Taking a Personalized Approach to Pain Management | - Pulmonary Hypertension News
| Posted: 30 Sep 2020 04:00 AM PDT SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Sept. 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson today announced the submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for UPTRAVI® (selexipag) as an injection for intravenous (IV) use for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH, WHO Group I) in adults with WHO functional class (FC) II–III, who are currently prescribed oral UPTRAVI but are temporarily unable to take oral therapy. In patients with PAH, interruptions in treatment should be avoided due to the progressive nature of the disease.1 UPTRAVI is a selective, prostacyclin IP receptor agonist. Oral UPTRAVI was approved by the FDA in 2015 for the treatment of PAH to delay disease progression and reduce the risk of hospitalization.2 "Even relatively short-term PAH treatment interruptions due to a temporary inability to take oral medication, like during surgery, can have a significant negative impact on a person's health," said Neil Davie, Ph.D., Global Therapeutic Area Head, Pulmonary Hypertension, Janssen Research & Development, LLC. "We have demonstrated that continued treatment with UPTRAVI can significantly improve patients' long-term outcomes. Preventing an interruption of treatment with an IV formulation is an important therapeutic option and we are pleased to be one step closer to bringing this important treatment to the PAH community." The NDA is based on the prospective, multi-center Phase 3 study designed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of patients with PAH temporarily switching from oral UPTRAVI to UPTRAVI IV, and then transitioning back to the initial oral dose. Results showed that UPTRAVI IV is suitable to maintain continuous dosing for short periods of time when oral administration of UPTRAVI is not feasible.1 About the UPTRAVI IV Study1 The UPTRAVI IV study (NCT03187678) was a prospective, multi-center, open-label single-sequence cross–over, Phase 3 study designed to assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of temporarily switching between oral UPTRAVI and UPTRAVI IV. The study examined a stable dose of UPTRAVI tablets to a corresponding dose of UPTRAVI for injection and switching back to UPTRAVI tablets. The treatment and observation phase was divided into 3 periods. In Period 1, patients received their stable oral dose of UPTRAVI twice daily (morning and evening of Day 1). In Period 2, patients received three infusions of corresponding UPTRAVI IV doses (morning and evening of Day 2, and morning of Day 3). In Period 3, patients resumed their stable oral UPTRAVI dose twice daily in the evening of Day 3 for 9 days, which was continued through the safety follow-up. Patients were hospitalized during Periods 1 and 2. All 20 enrolled patients completed the study as planned and received all UPTRAVI doses (oral or IV). The switch between oral UPTRAVI and UPTRAVI IV was well tolerated, and there were no unexpected safety findings. Adverse reactions that resulted from UPTRAVI for injection were similar to those associated with UPTRAVI tablets, with the exception of infusion site reaction. Prostacyclin-associated adverse events included headache, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, pain in jaw, myalgia, pain in extremity, flushing and arthralgia.1 IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION2 INDICATION UPTRAVI® (selexipag) is indicated for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH, WHO Group I) to delay disease progression and reduce the risk of hospitalization for PAH. Effectiveness was established in a long-term study in PAH patients with WHO Functional Class II-III symptoms. Patients had idiopathic and heritable PAH (58%), PAH associated with connective tissue disease (29%), and PAH associated with congenital heart disease with repaired shunts (10%). CONTRAINDICATIONS Concomitant use of strong inhibitors of CYP2C8 (eg, gemfibrozil) with UPTRAVI is contraindicated. WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease (PVOD) Should signs of pulmonary edema occur, consider the possibility of associated PVOD. If confirmed, discontinue UPTRAVI. ADVERSE REACTIONS Adverse reactions more frequent compared to placebo (≥3%) are headache (65% vs 32%), diarrhea (42% vs 18%), jaw pain (26% vs 6%), nausea (33% vs 18%), myalgia (16% vs 6%), vomiting (18% vs 9%), pain in extremity (17% vs 8%), flushing (12% vs 5%), arthralgia (11% vs 8%), anemia (8% vs 5%), decreased appetite (6% vs 3%), and rash (11% vs 8%). These adverse reactions are more frequent during the dose titration phase. Hyperthyroidism was observed in 1% (n=8) of patients on UPTRAVI and in none of the patients on placebo. DRUG INTERACTIONS CYP2C8 Inhibitors Concomitant administration with gemfibrozil, a strong inhibitor of CYP2C8, doubled exposure to selexipag and increased exposure to the active metabolite by approximately 11-fold. Concomitant use of UPTRAVI with strong inhibitors of CYP2C8 is contraindicated. Concomitant administration of UPTRAVI with clopidogrel, a moderate inhibitor of CYP2C8, had no relevant effect on the exposure to selexipag and increased the exposure to the active metabolite by approximately 2.7–fold. Reduce the dosing of UPTRAVI to once daily in patients on a moderate CYP2C8 inhibitor. CYP2C8 Inducers Concomitant administration with an inducer of CYP2C8 and UGT 1A3 and 2B7 enzymes (rifampin) halved exposure to the active metabolite. Increase UPTRAVI dose, up to twice, when co-administered with rifampin. Reduce UPTRAVI when rifampin is stopped. DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Recommended Dosage Recommended starting dose is 200 mcg twice daily. Tolerability may be improved when taken with food. Increase by 200 mcg twice daily, usually at weekly intervals, to the highest tolerated dose up to 1600 mcg twice daily. If dose is not tolerated, reduce to the previous tolerated dose. Patients With Hepatic Impairment For patients with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class B), the starting dose is 200 mcg once daily. Increase by 200 mcg once daily at weekly intervals, as tolerated. Avoid use of UPTRAVI in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class C). Co-administration With Moderate CYP2C8 Inhibitors When co-administered with moderate CYP2C8 inhibitors (eg, clopidogrel, deferasirox and teriflunomide), reduce the dosing of UPTRAVI to once daily. Revert back to twice daily dosing frequency of UPTRAVI when co-administration of moderate CYP2C8 inhibitor is stopped. Dosage Strengths UPTRAVI tablet strengths: 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1400, and 1600 mcg. Please see full Prescribing Information. About Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) PAH is a specific form of PH that causes the walls of the pulmonary arteries (blood vessels leading from the right side of the heart to the lungs) to become thick and stiff, narrowing the space for blood to flow, and causing an increased blood pressure to develop within the lungs. PAH is a serious, progressive disease with a variety of etiologies and has a major impact on patients' functioning as well as their physical, psychological and social wellbeing. There is currently no cure for PH and it is often fatal.3,4,5 However, the last decade has seen significant advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of PAH, transforming the prognosis for PAH patients from symptomatic improvements in exercise tolerance 10 years ago, to delayed disease progression today. About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson At Janssen, we're creating a future where disease is a thing of the past. We're the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, working tirelessly to make that future a reality for patients everywhere by fighting sickness with science, improving access with ingenuity, and healing hopelessness with heart. We focus on areas of medicine where we can make the biggest difference: Cardiovascular & Metabolism, Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Vaccines, Neuroscience, Oncology, and Pulmonary Hypertension. Learn more at www.janssen.com. Follow us at www.twitter.com/JanssenGlobal and www.twitter.com/JanssenUS. Janssen Research & Development, LLC is part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. Cautions Concerning Forward-looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding UPTRAVI® (selexipag) and product development of UPTRAVI IV. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Janssen Research & Development, LLC or any of the other Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies and/or Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; manufacturing difficulties and delays; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2019, including in the sections captioned "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors", and in the company's most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. None of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies nor Johnson & Johnson undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments. Media contact: Investor contact: References
SOURCE Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies  Related Links |
| Posted: 30 Sep 2020 05:00 AM PDT BRIDGEWATER, N.J., Sept. 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Insmed Incorporated (Nasdaq: INSM), a global biopharmaceutical company on a mission to transform the lives of patients with serious and rare diseases, today announced progress across its portfolio of therapies and pipeline candidates, which will be discussed in further detail today at the Company's virtual Research & Development (R&D) Day. The event will feature presentations from the Insmed management team and Ronald J. Oudiz, M.D., FACP, FACC, FCCP, Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), the Interim Chief, Division of Cardiology, and a Director at the Liu Center for Pulmonary Hypertension at the Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, and the lead investigator in the Company's planned Phase 2a trial for treprostinil palmitil inhalation powder (TPIP). "Our success in building a commercial company with a global footprint and strong pipeline sets the stage for Insmed's next chapter of growth," said Will Lewis, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Insmed. "With ARIKAYCE, our global expansion efforts and upcoming study in front-line NTM patients has the potential to establish this first-in-disease program as the standard of care in NTM lung disease worldwide. We believe brensocatib, our DPP1 inhibitor, offers an entirely new approach to address a wide array of neutrophil-mediated diseases. We plan to build upon our early leadership position in this space with our anticipated near-term registrational study in NCFBE, followed by a new development program in cystic fibrosis and plans to explore other opportunities across the neutrophil-mediated disease landscape. We are also pleased to announce the initiation of a Phase 1 trial of TPIP, which represents an exciting opportunity to more fully harness the potential of the prostanoid pathway for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension and may offer a disease-modifying effect. We are well capitalized to execute against our strategic objectives during this next phase of growth for Insmed." Select R&D Day Highlights Initiated Phase 1 Trial for Treprostinil Palmitil Inhalation Powder The Company announced today that it has initiated dosing of the first subjects in the Phase 1 healthy volunteer trial of TPIP in the United States. The objective of this first-in-human single ascending dose and multiple ascending dose study is to assess the pharmacokinetics and tolerability profile of TPIP. Top-line data are expected in the first quarter of 2021. The Company also announced plans to initiate a Phase 2a study in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in early 2021. Today, Dr. Oudiz will provide a review of the PAH treatment landscape and the remaining unmet medical need. Additionally, the Company will provide an update on TPIP and review key highlights of preclinical data supporting the product candidate's potentially differentiated product profile that could prove to be an advantageous addition to the therapeutic arsenal for the treatment of patients with PAH. Treprostinil palmitil is a prodrug consisting of treprostinil linked by an ester bond to a 16-carbon chain. The prodrug becomes active when esterases cleave off the 16-carbon chain, resulting in the active molecule treprostinil. TPIP is formulated as a dry powder for administration in a capsule-based inhalation device. Building a Leading Neutrophil-Mediated Portfolio with Brensocatib Insmed will outline its plans to leverage the potential of brensocatib, its small molecule, oral, reversible inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase I (DPP1), in an array of neutrophil-mediated diseases, beginning with NCFBE. The Company will discuss the study design for its registrational Phase 3 trial of brensocatib for the treatment of NCFBE. The trial, known as ASPEN, was developed with input from both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Insmed remains on track to launch the ASPEN trial in the fourth quarter of 2020. The Company also announced plans to advance a clinical development program for brensocatib in cystic fibrosis (CF) and to discuss this program with health authorities in the first half of 2021. Global Expansion for ARIKAYCE® (Amikacin Liposome Inhalation Suspension) ARIKAYCE is the first and only FDA-approved therapy for the treatment of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) lung disease as part of a combination antibacterial drug regimen for adult patients with limited or no alternative treatment options. Today the Company will provide an update on its global expansion efforts in Europe and Japan. Insmed recently received a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the EMA for the treatment of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung infections caused by MAC in adults with limited treatment options who do not have CF. The Company anticipates receiving Marketing Authorization in the European Union by the end of October, with a planned first European launch by end of 2020. In addition, Insmed filed a Japanese New Drug Application (JNDA) with the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in March of this year. Following an anticipated 12-month review, if ARIKAYCE is approved, the Company would anticipate launching ARIKAYCE in Japan in the middle of 2021. Additionally, the Company will provide details around its planned registration program to pursue regulatory approval of ARIKAYCE as a front-line therapy designed to establish a new standard of care for patients suffering from NTM lung disease. The clinical study design includes two separate but inter-related clinical trials to be conducted in parallel. ENCORE is the pivotal study intended to fulfill the post-marketing requirement to allow full approval of ARIKAYCE in the United States. The ARISE trial is an interventional study designed to validate the patient-reported outcome (PRO) tool that will be used to measure efficacy in ENCORE. The Company plans to initiate both trials globally in the fourth quarter of 2020. Financial Update As of June 30, 2020, Insmed had cash and cash equivalents of $641.9M. As of today, the Company expects its cash runway to extend over three years based on currently planned development programs. Conference Call The R&D Day is scheduled to take place today from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET in a virtual format. The call and accompanying slides will be webcast live on the Company's website at https://investor.insmed.com/events. To listen to the conference call live, please dial (888) 317-6003 (domestic) or (412) 317-6061 (international) and reference conference ID number 0587949. A replay of the conference call will be accessible approximately on hour after its completion through October 14, 2020 by dialing (877) 344-7529 (domestic) or (412) 317-0088 (international) and referencing replay access code 10147009. A webcast of the call will also be archived for 90 days under the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at https://investor.insmed.com/events. About Insmed Insmed Incorporated is a global biopharmaceutical company on a mission to transform the lives of patients with serious and rare diseases. Insmed's first commercial product, ARIKAYCE® (amikacin liposome inhalation suspension), is the first and only therapy approved in the United States for the treatment of refractory Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) lung disease as part of a combination antibacterial drug regimen for adult patients with limited or no alternative treatment options. MAC lung disease is a chronic, debilitating condition that can cause severe and permanent lung damage. Insmed's earlier-stage clinical pipeline includes brensocatib, a novel oral reversible inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase 1 with therapeutic potential in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis and other inflammatory diseases, and treprostinil palmitil inhalation powder, a treprostinil prodrug formulated as a dry powder for inhalation, which may offer a differentiated product profile for rare pulmonary disorders, including pulmonary arterial hypertension. For more information, visit www.insmed.com. Forward-looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. "Forward-looking statements," as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, are statements that are not historical facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Words herein such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "would," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "projects," "predicts," "intends," "potential," "continues," and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) may identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon the Company's current expectations and beliefs, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the Company's actual results, performance and achievements and the timing of certain events to differ materially from the results, performance, achievements or timing discussed, projected, anticipated or indicated in any forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others, the following: failure to obtain, or delays in obtaining, regulatory approvals for ARIKAYCE outside the U.S. or for the Company's product candidates in the U.S., Europe, Japan or other markets, including the United Kingdom as a result of its recent exit from the European Union; failure to successfully commercialize or maintain U.S. approval for ARIKAYCE, the Company's only approved product; business or economic disruptions due to catastrophes or other events, including natural disasters or public health crises; impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and efforts to reduce its spread on the Company's business, employees, including key personnel, patients, partners and suppliers; the risk that brensocatib does not prove effective or safe for patients in future clinical studies, including the ASPEN and STOP-COVID19 studies; uncertainties in the degree of market acceptance of ARIKAYCE by physicians, patients, third-party payors and others in the healthcare community; the Company's inability to obtain full approval of ARIKAYCE from the FDA, including the risk that the Company will not timely and successfully complete the study to validate a PRO tool and complete the confirmatory post-marketing study required for full approval of ARIKAYCE; inability of the Company, PARI Pharma GmbH (PARI) or the Company's other third party manufacturers to comply with regulatory requirements related to ARIKAYCE or the Lamira® Nebulizer System; the Company's inability to obtain adequate reimbursement from government or third-party payors for ARIKAYCE or acceptable prices for ARIKAYCE; development of unexpected safety or efficacy concerns related to ARIKAYCE; inaccuracies in the Company's estimates of the size of the potential markets for ARIKAYCE or its product candidates or in data the Company has used to identify physicians; expected rates of patient uptake, duration of expected treatment, or expected patient adherence or discontinuation rates; the Company's inability to create an effective direct sales and marketing infrastructure or to partner with third parties that offer such an infrastructure for distribution of ARIKAYCE or any of the Company's product candidates that is approved in the future; failure to obtain regulatory approval to expand ARIKAYCE's indication to a broader patient population; failure to successfully conduct future clinical trials for ARIKAYCE, brensocatib and the Company's other product candidates, including due to the Company's limited experience in conducting preclinical development activities and clinical trials necessary for regulatory approval and its inability to enroll or retain sufficient patients to conduct and complete the trials or generate data necessary for regulatory approval; risks that our clinical studies will be delayed or that serious side effects will be identified during drug development; failure of third parties on which the Company is dependent to manufacture sufficient quantities of ARIKAYCE or the Company's product candidates for commercial or clinical needs, to conduct the Company's clinical trials, or to comply with laws and regulations that impact the Company's business or agreements with the Company; the Company's inability to attract and retain key personnel or to effectively manage the Company's growth; the Company's inability to adapt to its highly competitive and changing environment; the Company's inability to adequately protect its intellectual property rights or prevent disclosure of its trade secrets and other proprietary information and costs associated with litigation or other proceedings related to such matters; restrictions or other obligations imposed on the Company by its agreements related to ARIKAYCE or the Company's product candidates, including its license agreements with PARI and AstraZeneca AB, and failure of the Company to comply with its obligations under such agreements; the cost and potential reputational damage resulting from litigation to which the Company is or may become a party, including product liability claims; the Company's limited experience operating internationally; changes in laws and regulations applicable to the Company's business, including any pricing reform, and failure to comply with such laws and regulations; inability to repay the Company's existing indebtedness and uncertainties with respect to the Company's ability to access future capital; and delays in the execution of plans to build out an additional FDA-approved third-party manufacturing facility and unexpected expenses associated with those plan. The Company may not actually achieve the results, plans, intentions or expectations indicated by the Company's forward-looking statements because, by their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. For additional information about the risks and uncertainties that may affect the Company's business, please see the factors discussed in Item 1A, "Risk Factors," in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020 and any subsequent Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any obligation, except as specifically required by law and the rules of the SEC, to publicly update or revise any such statements to reflect any change in expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Contact: Investors: Argot Partners Laura Perry or Heather Savelle (212) 600-1902 Insmed@argotpartners.com Media: Mandy Fahey Senior Director, Corporate Communications Insmed (732) 718-3621 amanda.fahey@insmed.com View original content to download multimedia: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/insmed-highlights-progress-across-portfolio-and-outlines-growth-strategy-at-rd-day-301141527.html SOURCE Insmed Incorporated Copyright © 2020 PR Newswire Association LLC. All Rights Reserved.  |
| Taking a Personalized Approach to Pain Management | - Pulmonary Hypertension News Posted: 30 Sep 2020 07:00 AM PDT Did you know that September was Pain Awareness Month? This year, the U.S. Pain Foundation's awareness campaign focused on encouraging people to develop a personalized pain management plan. With my pulmonary hypertension (PH) and coexisting illnesses, developing my own pain management plan has been somewhat complicated. But I am grateful to be working with my medical team to figure out the best way forward. As with everything, pain management strategies should be flexible. What is pain?Nursing school instilled in my head that pain is "whatever the experiencing person says it is." Margo McCaffery, who coined this definition of pain in 1968, was a pioneer in pain management for nursing. But in the 15 years following my PH diagnosis, I have learned that not all nurses and doctors share this view. Have you ever felt like medical professionals were giving you a hard time about your pain? This issue has been a difficult hurdle for me as I learned how much stigma surrounds pain management. Also, in recent years, obtaining prescribed pain medications has become more challenging. Given the stigma associated with pain control in this country, it can quickly become an ongoing battle. I know I'm not alone in dealing with it. Many do not understand why people with PH suffer from such agony. There are a multitude of reasons why I am affected by chronic pain. Some of my discomfort, particularly in my legs, arms, and joints, is an unfortunate side effect of the PH medications I take daily. My pain management doctor teaches me about hypoxia-related pain, which stems from many years of having low oxygen. Over time, this can affect all of the cells and the organs within my body. I also tend to have lower back discomfort, a result of chronic kidney disease. Other days, chest tightness and heaviness are the culprits. Using a multifaceted approachToday, most doctors take a multifaceted approach to pain management. I have tried over-the-counter creams to help with this challenge. I started seeing a pain management doctor earlier this year. Given my other medications and my kidney disease, the type of medications I can take, as well as how many, are limited. I first opened up about my chronic pain earlier this year after a hospitalization for intravenous pain management. Before that, I thought dealing with pain was just another part of my "new norm." Today, I am grateful to see my medical team working together to address the problem. They have taken the time to think about my complex medical conditions before devising a treatment plan. Stretching and deep breathingMost days, my approach is the same as that of my medical professionals. Stretching and deep breathing, as demonstrated by these simple yoga poses, can be helpful. As I write this, I am on my couch rolled up like a burrito in my heating blanket. I often use heat, either from warm bath soaks or heated blankets and pads, as a tool. Have you used heated seats in a vehicle? That feels so good on my lower back. Pain medication is only one piece of the puzzlePain medication is another approach to keeping my chronic pain under control. Reminding ourselves that these medications are only a small piece of the puzzle is vital. Keeping in mind that it is OK to take these medications is also beneficial. Yet, at times, I must choose between taking these medications and resting, or doing without. The reasons are that some tend to cause drowsiness and can affect my thinking. If I am up to it, I will get in the pool and do a bit of water therapy, which I find refreshing and relaxing. I hope to incorporate a bit more exercise soon to see if it helps, too. My goal is to obtain enough relief by using each of these approaches to offer me the best overall quality of life. By using a combination, I can better enjoy my family. Chronic pain does not have to steal your joy. Start with a multifaceted approach, and you will garner better relief. If you or a loved one are dealing with chronic pain, I encourage you to talk to your medical team. They can help you find the best personalized plan for you. Don't ignore your pain, because unfortunately, it doesn't simply go away. And please never allow someone to dismiss your suffering. *** Note: Pulmonary Hypertension News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Pulmonary Hypertension News or its parent company, BioNews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to pulmonary hypertension.  Jen Cueva is a " well -seasoned" patient who has been living with pulmonary hypertension (PH) since 2005. Although her favorite place is Southern California, she now lives on the Texas Gulf Coast. She lives with her supportive and comical husband and their Mini Schnauzer named Sasha. Prior to acquiring pulmonary hypertension (PH), she worked in nursing, which she wholeheartedly loved. She enjoys cooking for her family, listening to live music, and sitting by the water. You can also find her visiting local coffee shops with her daughter(as she writes or chills) or at a medley of restaurants. She's a total foodie! In her weekly column, "Worth the PHIght ", she delves into the rollercoaster of emotions that she faces living with PH. She hopes to share her challenges and tips while touching on current topics with other PH patients and their caregivers. Her goal is that by sharing her PH journey, she will inspire and instill hope in others. Together, eventually, we will find a cure for pulmonary hypertension- Never give up hope. × Jen Cueva is a " well -seasoned" patient who has been living with pulmonary hypertension (PH) since 2005. Although her favorite place is Southern California, she now lives on the Texas Gulf Coast. She lives with her supportive and comical husband and their Mini Schnauzer named Sasha. Prior to acquiring pulmonary hypertension (PH), she worked in nursing, which she wholeheartedly loved. She enjoys cooking for her family, listening to live music, and sitting by the water. You can also find her visiting local coffee shops with her daughter(as she writes or chills) or at a medley of restaurants. She's a total foodie! In her weekly column, "Worth the PHIght ", she delves into the rollercoaster of emotions that she faces living with PH. She hopes to share her challenges and tips while touching on current topics with other PH patients and their caregivers. Her goal is that by sharing her PH journey, she will inspire and instill hope in others. Together, eventually, we will find a cure for pulmonary hypertension- Never give up hope. Latest Posts  |
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