From 1987 to 2001, there were no new FDA-approved drugs to treat acute heart failure. Then in 2001, NATRECOR^® was approved, marking an important evolution in the understanding and treatment of heart disease. Today, NATRECOR^® is prescribed across the US for the treatment of acutely decompensated heart failure patients with dyspnea (shortness of breath) at rest or with minimal activity (such as talking, eating or bathing).

This site is intended for Patients and their families in the US only. If you are a healthcare professional, please visit www.natrecor360.com.

Please see the Important Safety Information below.

INDICATION

NATRECOR^® (nesiritide) is a drug that is used by doctors, primarily in the hospital setting. NATRECOR^® helps patients with heart failure when their condition worsens to the point that they have difficulty breathing when they are not active (like when they are resting in bed) or when they engage in slight physical activity (like brushing their teeth). In clinical studies, NATRECOR^® improved breathing and lowered the blood pressure in their lungs.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

NATRECOR^® should not be used in patients with certain types of heart failure. NATRECOR^® may reduce kidney function in some patients. In clinical studies, more patients receiving NATRECOR^® had increases in a common blood measurement called "serum creatinine" than patients who were treated with standard therapy. Increases in serum creatinine often suggest that kidney function has declined. These changes were particularly noticeable at higher doses. For this reason, it is important your doctor uses NATRECOR^® at the recommended dose.

In some of the clinical trials more patients who were treated with NATRECOR^® died than patients treated with other standard medications. These differences were small and the deaths may or may not have been caused by NATRECOR^®. Use of NATRECOR^® can lower blood pressure. When NATRECOR^® causes a drop in blood pressure it can be a serious side effect requiring treatment. It is important that your doctor only use NATRECOR^® in a setting where your blood pressure can be closely monitored.

Be sure to ask your healthcare provider about NATRECOR^®'s potential side effects, and other treatment options for heart failure.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please click here to see Full Prescribing Information for NATRECOR^®.