Drugs A-Z Verquvo (Vericiguat) - Oral Generic Name: Vericiguat (ver-i-SIG-ue-at) Common Brand Names: Verquvo By Christina Varvatsis, PharmD Christina Varvatsis, PharmD LinkedIn Christina Varvatsis is a hospital pharmacist and freelance medical writer committed to educating the public on medication therapy. She strives to promote the safe and effective use of medications. Learn about our editorial process Published on May 10, 2022 Medically reviewed by Erika Prouty, PharmD Medically reviewed by Erika Prouty, PharmD LinkedIn Erika Prouty, PharmD, is a professional community pharmacist who aids patients in medication management and pharmacy services in North Adams, Massachusetts. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Additional Content by IBM Micromedex® Table of Contents View All Table of Contents What Is Verquvo? Uses Side Effects Dosage Overdose Precautions Interactions Frequently Asked Questions How to Stay Healthy Warning: Verquvo can cause serious birth defects if taken during pregnancy. People who can become pregnant must use an effective form of birth control during treatment and one month after stopping Verquvo. You will need to take a pregnancy test before starting Verquvo to ensure you are not pregnant. … Show More What Is Verquvo? Verquvo (vericiguat) is an oral prescription medication used to reduce the risk of dying and the need for hospitalization in certain people with heart failure. Verquvo belongs to a group of drugs called soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators. It works by relaxing smooth muscle and widening blood vessels (vasodilation), allowing the heart to pump blood and oxygen more easily throughout the body. Drug Facts Generic Name: VericiguatBrand Name(s): VerquvoAdministration Route(s): OralDrug Availability: PrescriptionTherapeutic Classification: Soluble guanylate cyclase stimulatorAvailable Generically: NoControlled Substance: N/AActive Ingredient: VericiguatDosage Form(s): Tablet What Is Verquvo Used For? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Verquvo to reduce the risk of dying or the need for hospitalization in certain people with heart failure. Verquvo may be appropriate for you if: You have chronic (long-standing) heart failure and are experiencing symptoms You have an ejection fraction (the amount of blood pumped with each heartbeat) less than 45% You have been hospitalized for heart failure or have received IV (intravenous) medicines to help control your symptoms Verywell / Zoe Hansen How to Take Verquvo Verquvo comes as an oral tablet that is taken once daily with food. Your healthcare provider may increase your dose slowly every couple of weeks to find the best dose for you. The FDA has issued a boxed warning (the agency’s strongest warning) for Verquvo due to its potential to cause birth defects if taken during pregnancy. For this reason, people who can become pregnant must use an effective form of birth control while taking Verquvo and for one month after stopping treatment. Your healthcare provider will require you to take a pregnancy test before starting Verquvo to ensure you are not pregnant. Storage Store Verquvo at room temperature. Be sure to keep Verquvo—and all your medicines—in a safe location, up high and out of the reach of children and pets. What Are the Side Effects of Verquvo? This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. A healthcare provider can advise you on side effects. If you experience other effects, contact your pharmacist or a healthcare provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at fda.gov/medwatch or 1-800-FDA-1088. Common Side Effects Verquvo is generally well-tolerated, but side effects can occur. Be sure to let your healthcare provider know if you experience any side effects that bother you or don’t go away. Common side effects include: Dizziness or lightheadedness Low blood pressure Low red blood cells (anemia) Severe Side Effects Rarely, Verquvo may cause serious side effects. Let your healthcare provider know if you experience any of the following symptoms. It could mean that your red blood cell levels are very low. Tiredness Shortness of breath Pale skin Report Side Effects This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. A healthcare provider can advise you on side effects. If you experience other effects, contact your pharmacist or a healthcare provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at fda.gov/medwatch or 1-800-FDA-1088. (800) 332-1088 Dosage: How Much Verquvo Should I Take? Drug Content Provided by IBM Micromedex® The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. For oral dosage form (tablets): For chronic heart failure: Adults—At first, 2.5 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed and tolerated. However, the dose is usually not more than 10 mg once a day. Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor. Modifications If you have trouble swallowing pills, you may crush Verquvo tablets and mix them with water. Be sure to swallow the mixture immediately—do not save it for later. Missed Dose If you miss a dose of Verquvo, take it as soon as you remember, as long as it’s the same day. If you don’t remember until the next day, skip the missed dose and resume your regular dosing schedule. Do not double up or take extra Verquvo. Overdose: What Happens If I Take Too Much Verquvo? Taking too much Verquvo may cause your blood pressure to drop, making you feel dizzy and lightheaded. It’s important only to take your prescribed dose of Verquvo. Ask your healthcare practitioner or pharmacist if you are unsure how much to take. What Happens If I Overdose on Verquvo? If you think you or someone else may have overdosed on Verquvo, call a healthcare provider or the Poison Control Center (800-222-1222).If someone collapses or isn't breathing after taking Verquvo, call 911 immediately. 911 Precautions Drug Content Provided by IBM Micromedex® It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects. Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. If you are a woman who can get pregnant, your doctor may do tests to make sure you are not pregnant before starting treatment. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant while you are using this medicine and for at least 1 month after your last dose. Tell your doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant. Do not use this medicine together with another soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator. Do not use this medicine together with medicine to treat erectile dysfunction (eg, sildenafil). Using these medicines together may cause hypotension (low blood pressure). What Are Reasons I Shouldn’t Take Verquvo? Certain conditions increase your risk of developing complications from Verquvo. Don’t take Verquvo if you: Take other sGC stimulators, such as Adempas (riociguat) Are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding Let your healthcare provider know about all your medical conditions to decide if Verquvo is a safe treatment option for you. What Other Medications Interact With Verquvo? Certain medications may interact with Verquvo and affect how it works. Be sure to let your healthcare provider know about all the medicines you take—including over-the-counter, nonprescription products. You should not take other sGC stimulators (e.g., riociguat) with Verquvo, as doing so can increase your risk of side effects. Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors can increase your risk of low blood pressure when taken with Verquvo. PDE-5 inhibitors—commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension—include: Stendra (avanafil) Revatio, Viagra (sildenafil) Cialis, Adcirca (tadalafil) Levitra, Staxyn (vardenafil) This is not a complete list of all the drugs that may interact with Verquvo. Always keep an up-to-date list of all the medicines you take and let your healthcare provider and pharmacist know if there are changes. Frequently Asked Questions What is Verquvo used for? Verquvo is used to decrease the risk of dying or the need for hospitalization due to heart failure complications. Your healthcare provider may prescribe Verquvo to treat your heart failure if you have been recently hospitalized or have received IV medicines to control your symptoms. How does Verquvo work? Verquvo works by relaxing and widening blood vessels. This decreases how hard the heart needs to work to pump blood and oxygen throughout the body. What drugs should not be taken with Verquvo? You should not take other sGC stimulators or PDE-5 inhibitors (medicines commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension) with Verquvo. These include Stendra (avanafil), Revatio, Viagra (sildenafil), Adcirca, Cialis (tadalafil), vardenafil, and Adempas (riociguat). What are the side effects of Verquvo? The most common side effects of Verquvo include low blood pressure and low red blood cells (anemia). Let your healthcare provider know if you feel dizzy or lightheaded while taking Verquvo. How Can I Stay Healthy While Taking Verquvo? If you’re struggling to get your heart failure under control, your healthcare provider may add Verquvo to your treatment plan. Verquvo needs food to help get absorbed into your body, so be sure to take your dose with a meal. Because Verquvo can cause fetal harm, you must ensure you’re not pregnant before starting treatment. Talk with your healthcare provider about your birth control options. You must use an effective form of birth control during treatment and for one month after you stop taking Verquvo. Medical Disclaimer Verywell Health's drug information is meant for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a healthcare provider. Consult your healthcare provider before taking any new medication(s). IBM Watson Micromedex provides some of the drug content, as indicated on the page. 2 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Food and Drug Administration. Verquvo label. MedlinePlus. Vericiguat. By Christina Varvatsis, PharmD Christina Varvatsis is a hospital pharmacist and freelance medical writer. She is passionate about helping individuals make informed healthcare choices by understanding the benefits and risks of their treatment options. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit