vericiguat at a glance
Medicine class
Soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator
Licensed role
Symptomatic chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction after recent decompensation requiring intravenous therapy
Administration
Take with food; tablets may be crushed and mixed with water immediately before taking
Important risk
Can lower blood pressure and cause dizziness or faintness
What is vericiguat used for?
The selected UK product is licensed for:
Symptomatic chronic heart failure in adults with reduced ejection fraction who have been stabilised after a recent decompensation event requiring intravenous therapy.
How does vericiguat work?
Vericiguat stimulates soluble guanylate cyclase and makes it more responsive to nitric oxide. This increases cyclic GMP signalling, promoting vascular smooth-muscle relaxation and supporting myocardial and vascular function where this pathway is impaired in heart failure.
vericiguat preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg
How to take vericiguat
Follow the prescriber's instructions. Take the tablet with food. If swallowing is difficult, it may be crushed, mixed with water and taken immediately. Do not stop vericiguat without discussing this with the treating team.
Food improves and makes absorption more consistent.
A crushed tablet mixed with water has comparable exposure to a whole tablet.
Dizziness can affect driving, cycling or machinery use.
vericiguat side effects
Common or expected effects
- Low blood pressure
- Anaemia
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Indigestion
- Heartburn or acid reflux
Get urgent medical advice
- Fainting, collapse or severe persistent dizziness may indicate marked hypotension and needs urgent assessment.
vericiguat in pregnancy
Vericiguat should not be used during pregnancy because human data are unavailable and animal studies found reproductive toxicity. People who could become pregnant should discuss effective contraception and contact their prescriber promptly if pregnancy occurs or is planned.
vericiguat while breastfeeding
It is unknown whether vericiguat enters human milk, and risk to a breastfed child cannot be excluded. A specialist or prescriber should weigh the benefits of breastfeeding against the need for treatment.
vericiguat interactions
The main clinically important interactions involve medicines that also increase cyclic GMP signalling or lower blood pressure.
Other soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators, such as riociguat
Concurrent use is contraindicated because of overlapping pharmacological effects.
PDE5 inhibitors, such as sildenafil, tadalafil or vardenafil
Use with vericiguat is not recommended in heart failure because symptomatic hypotension may be more likely.
Organic nitrates
Blood-pressure symptoms require attention; experience with long-acting nitrates in heart failure is limited.
Common questions about vericiguat
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Why might vericiguat be prescribed after worsening heart failure?
Its UK licence covers selected adults with symptomatic heart failure and reduced ejection fraction who have recently required intravenous treatment for decompensation and are now stabilised.
Is vericiguat a diuretic?
No. It is a soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator; it works through nitric-oxide and cyclic-GMP signalling rather than directly increasing urine production.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.