Ohtuvayre (ensifentrine) is a prescription drug used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults. Ohtuvayre comes as a liquid suspension for use with a nebulizer.

To learn more about Ohtuvayre’s uses, see the “What is Ohtuvayre used for?” section.

Ohtuvayre basics

Ohtuvayre is a brand-name medication. It contains the active ingredient ensifentrine. A generic version of Ohtuvayre isn’t currently available.

Ohtuvayre has Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the ongoing treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults.

COPD is a group of lung conditions that make it difficult to breathe. These conditions may cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness.

Ohtuvayre belongs to the drug class phosphodiesterase 3 and 4 inhibitors. Its mechanism of action (how it works) is to relax your airways and reduce lung inflammation, making it easier for you to breathe.

If you have questions about using Ohtuvayre for COPD, talk with your doctor.

Like most drugs, Ohtuvayre may cause mild to serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the more common side effects this drug may cause, but they don’t include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

  • your age
  • other health conditions you have
  • other medications you take

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Ohtuvayre. They can also suggest ways to help reduce or relieve the side effects.

Mild side effects

Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects Ohtuvayre can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist or read the drug’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Ohtuvayre that have been reported include:

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if side effects are ongoing or bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Ohtuvayre can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from this medication, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Ohtuvayre that have been reported include:

ALLERGIC REACTION

For some people, Ohtuvayre can cause an allergic reaction. But this side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies.

In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking Ohtuvayre.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Ohtuvayre, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Following are commonly used dosages of Ohtuvayre, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes. They’ll recommend the dosage that’s right for you.

Form and strength

Ohtuvayre comes as a liquid suspension in single-dose ampules (small vials) for use with a nebulizer.

Ohtuvayre is available in one strength of 3 milligrams in 2.5 milliliters of suspension (mg/mL).

Recommended dosage

For adults with COPD, the typical dosage of Ohtuvayre is 1 ampule inhaled twice daily.

How to use

Ohtuvayre comes as a liquid suspension that’s given with a nebulizer. Your doctor will explain how to properly use this medication with the nebulizer, as well as how much to use and how often. Be sure to follow their instructions.

To learn more about how you’ll use Ohtuvayre, talk with your doctor. You can also visit the drug manufacturer’s website.

Questions about using Ohtuvayre

Below are some common questions about using Ohtuvayre.

  • Is there a best time of day to use Ohtuvayre? You’ll inhale this medication twice daily — once in the morning and once in the evening.
  • What if I miss a dose of Ohtuvayre? If you miss a dose of Ohtuvayre, take it as soon as you remember. But if it’s almost time to take your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at its usual time. You should not take two doses at once to make up for a missed dose. Doing so could raise your risk of side effects.
  • Will I need to use Ohtuvayre long term? Ohtuvayre is typically a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective for your condition, you’ll likely use it long term.
  • How long does Ohtuvayre take to work? Ohtuvayre begins to work after you take your first dose. But you may not feel the drug working in your body. Your doctor will order tests throughout your treatment to check whether Ohtuvayre is working. Keep in mind that Ohtuvayre is not a fast-acting treatment for sudden COPD symptoms. It’s used for the ongoing management of COPD. Your doctor will recommend other treatment options for managing sudden COPD symptoms.

Overdose

Do not use more Ohtuvayre than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to harmful effects.

Symptoms of overdose

Symptoms caused by an overdose can include:

What to do in case you use too much Ohtuvayre

Call your doctor if you think you’ve inhaled too much Ohtuvayre. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency room.

The following is important information you should consider before starting Ohtuvayre treatment.

Interactions

Taking a drug with certain medications, vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the drug works. These effects are called interactions.

Ohtuvayre is not known to interact with other medications, herbs, supplements, foods, or alcohol. The manufacturer did not list any interactions in the drug’s prescribing information.

Before starting Ohtuvayre treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you take. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether it’s safe to use Ohtuvayre during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant or to breastfeed, talk with your doctor before starting this medication.

Warnings

Ohtuvayre can sometimes cause harmful effects in people with certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether this drug is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before starting Ohtuvayre. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:

Help is out there

If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:

If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.

If you’re not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.

Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Ohtuvayre. The price you’ll pay for this medication may depend on several things, such as your treatment plan and the pharmacy you use.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A program called Verona Pathway Plus may also be available.

Other drugs are available that can treat COPD. If you’d like to explore an alternative to Ohtuvayre, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that might work well for you.

The following COPD medications are alternatives to Ohtuvayre:

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.