AMBRISENTAN

78/100 · Elevated

Manufactured by Gilead Sciences, Inc.

Ambrisentan Adverse Events: High Serious Event Rate and Pulmonary Hypertension Concerns

240,584 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About AMBRISENTAN

AMBRISENTAN is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by Gilead Sciences, Inc.. Based on analysis of 240,584 FDA adverse event reports, AMBRISENTAN has a safety score of 78 out of 100. This score indicates a relatively favorable safety profile, with fewer or less severe adverse events compared to many other tracked medications. The most commonly reported adverse reactions for AMBRISENTAN include DYSPNOEA, DEATH, HEADACHE, PNEUMONIA, DIARRHOEA. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for AMBRISENTAN.

AI Safety Analysis

Ambrisentan has a safety concern score of 78 out of 100, placing it in the high concern category based on analysis of FDA adverse event data. The FDA has received approximately 240,584 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by Gilead Sciences, Inc..

The most commonly reported adverse events include Dyspnoea, Death, Headache. Of classified reports, 64.8% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. Ambrisentan reports a high serious event rate, particularly for respiratory and cardiovascular issues.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension and fluid retention are among the most frequently reported adverse reactions. The majority of adverse events are related to respiratory and cardiovascular systems, indicating a significant safety concern.

Patients taking Ambrisentan should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Ambrisentan is contraindicated in patients with severe hepatic impairment and should be used with caution in patients with renal impairment. It may interact with other drugs that affect blood pressure, such as ACE inhibitors and diuretics. This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 78/100

Ambrisentan received a safety concern score of 78/100 (high concern). This is based on a 64.8% serious event ratio across 122,607 classified reports. The score accounts for 240,584 total adverse event reports and 100 distinct reaction types. This high score reflects a significant proportion of serious adverse events in the reporting data.

Top Adverse Reactions

DYSPNOEA18,953 reports
DEATH11,263 reports
HEADACHE10,594 reports
PNEUMONIA7,183 reports
DIARRHOEA6,994 reports
FATIGUE6,491 reports
DIZZINESS6,457 reports
NAUSEA6,434 reports
FLUID RETENTION5,437 reports
MALAISE5,287 reports
COUGH4,535 reports
OEDEMA PERIPHERAL4,164 reports
PERIPHERAL SWELLING3,987 reports
CHEST PAIN3,798 reports
NASAL CONGESTION3,772 reports
HYPOTENSION3,698 reports
VOMITING3,687 reports
OEDEMA3,536 reports
PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION3,332 reports
UNEVALUABLE EVENT3,142 reports
PAIN3,130 reports
PAIN IN EXTREMITY3,101 reports
SYNCOPE3,090 reports
FALL2,782 reports
ASTHENIA2,766 reports
OXYGEN SATURATION DECREASED2,673 reports
OFF LABEL USE2,671 reports
FLUSHING2,640 reports
NASOPHARYNGITIS2,614 reports
PULMONARY HYPERTENSION2,514 reports
DYSPNOEA EXERTIONAL2,508 reports
PAIN IN JAW2,450 reports
WEIGHT DECREASED2,282 reports
SWELLING2,251 reports
WEIGHT INCREASED2,208 reports
CARDIAC FAILURE CONGESTIVE2,203 reports
PALPITATIONS2,085 reports
ANAEMIA2,068 reports
PYREXIA1,788 reports
FEELING ABNORMAL1,774 reports
ARTHRALGIA1,772 reports
DECREASED APPETITE1,753 reports
INFUSION SITE PAIN1,669 reports
DRUG INEFFECTIVE1,584 reports
CARDIAC FAILURE1,580 reports
CONDITION AGGRAVATED1,575 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN UPPER1,546 reports
CHEST DISCOMFORT1,537 reports
BACK PAIN1,533 reports
HOSPITALISATION1,529 reports
MYALGIA1,470 reports
EPISTAXIS1,458 reports
ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT1,455 reports
INFLUENZA1,432 reports
RESPIRATORY FAILURE1,417 reports
LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS1,310 reports
INSOMNIA1,303 reports
PRODUCT USE ISSUE1,252 reports
RASH1,246 reports
RIGHT VENTRICULAR FAILURE1,240 reports
HEART RATE INCREASED1,239 reports
FLUID OVERLOAD1,204 reports
ABDOMINAL DISTENSION1,194 reports
SINUSITIS1,188 reports
DRUG DOSE OMISSION1,176 reports
CARDIAC DISORDER1,172 reports
ATRIAL FIBRILLATION1,171 reports
BRONCHITIS1,161 reports
CONSTIPATION1,147 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN1,134 reports
DEHYDRATION1,103 reports
URINARY TRACT INFECTION1,088 reports
PRURITUS1,040 reports
HYPOXIA1,012 reports
ANXIETY999 reports
INFECTION993 reports
CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE982 reports
RENAL FAILURE973 reports
SEPSIS964 reports
BLOOD PRESSURE DECREASED933 reports
INFUSION SITE ERYTHEMA926 reports
LUNG DISORDER925 reports
JOINT SWELLING924 reports
HAEMOGLOBIN DECREASED919 reports
DEVICE RELATED INFECTION911 reports
MUSCLE SPASMS909 reports
OROPHARYNGEAL PAIN866 reports
DYSPEPSIA852 reports
THERAPY INTERRUPTED834 reports
MIGRAINE832 reports
GAIT DISTURBANCE813 reports
HAEMORRHAGE807 reports
GASTROINTESTINAL HAEMORRHAGE802 reports
COVID 19796 reports
PULMONARY OEDEMA796 reports
CATHETERISATION CARDIAC795 reports
PRODUCTIVE COUGH779 reports
HYPERSENSITIVITY761 reports
PRODUCT DOSE OMISSION ISSUE742 reports
CELLULITIS719 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • High rate of serious events (64.8%)
  • Frequent reports of pulmonary arterial hypertension
  • Common occurrence of fluid retention and dyspnea

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Female: 91,271, Male: 29,252, Unknown: 172. The most frequently reported age groups are age 70 (2,350 reports), age 64 (2,256 reports), age 66 (2,236 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 122,607 classified reports for AMBRISENTAN:

  • Serious: 79,490 reports (64.8%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 43,117 reports (35.2%)
Serious 64.8%Non-Serious 35.2%

The FDA classifies an adverse event as “serious” if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, congenital anomaly, or requires intervention to prevent permanent damage.

Demographics Breakdown

Reports by Sex

Female91,271 (75.6%)
Male29,252 (24.2%)
Unknown172 (0.1%)

Reports by Age

Age 702,350 reports
Age 642,256 reports
Age 662,236 reports
Age 692,213 reports
Age 652,192 reports
Age 712,162 reports
Age 682,157 reports
Age 722,147 reports
Age 622,136 reports
Age 672,114 reports
Age 602,102 reports
Age 612,067 reports
Age 592,059 reports
Age 632,052 reports
Age 742,008 reports
Age 571,963 reports
Age 751,932 reports
Age 731,924 reports
Age 561,900 reports
Age 761,876 reports

Demographics reflect voluntary FDA adverse event reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Ambrisentan is contraindicated in patients with severe hepatic impairment and should be used with caution in patients with renal impairment. It may interact with other drugs that affect blood pressure, such as ACE inhibitors and diuretics.

What You Should Know

If you are taking Ambrisentan, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include dyspnoea, death, headache, pneumonia, diarrhoea. While many of these may be mild and temporary, you should contact your healthcare provider if any symptoms are severe or persistent. Patients should report any symptoms of respiratory distress or cardiovascular issues to their healthcare provider immediately. Avoid driving or operating heavy machinery if experiencing dizziness or fatigue. If you experience a serious adverse reaction, seek emergency medical attention immediately or call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Regulatory Context

The FDA has issued a black box warning for ambrisentan due to the risk of pulmonary arterial hypertension and other serious cardiovascular events. Regular monitoring of blood pressure and pulmonary function is recommended.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many adverse event reports has the FDA received for Ambrisentan?

The FDA has received approximately 240,584 adverse event reports associated with Ambrisentan. These reports come from healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Note that the number of reports does not directly indicate the frequency of side effects, as adverse events are voluntarily reported and may be underrepresented.

What are the most commonly reported side effects of Ambrisentan?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Ambrisentan include Dyspnoea, Death, Headache, Pneumonia, Diarrhoea. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Dyspnoea (18,953 reports), Death (11,263 reports), Headache (10,594 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Ambrisentan.

What percentage of Ambrisentan adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 122,607 classified reports, 79,490 (64.8%) were classified as serious and 43,117 as non-serious. The FDA classifies an event as "serious" if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, or other medically significant outcomes. A higher serious-event ratio warrants closer attention but does not necessarily mean the drug is unsafe.

Who reports adverse events for Ambrisentan (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Ambrisentan break down by patient sex as follows: Female: 91,271, Male: 29,252, Unknown: 172. This distribution reflects reporting patterns rather than actual risk differences between groups. Reporting rates can be influenced by prescribing patterns, disease demographics, and reporting behavior.

What age groups report the most side effects for Ambrisentan?

The most frequently reported age groups for Ambrisentan adverse events are: age 70: 2,350 reports, age 64: 2,256 reports, age 66: 2,236 reports, age 69: 2,213 reports, age 65: 2,192 reports. Age-related reporting patterns can reflect both the demographics of the patient population and potential age-related susceptibility to certain side effects.

Who manufactures Ambrisentan?

The primary manufacturer associated with Ambrisentan adverse event reports is Gilead Sciences, Inc.. Multiple manufacturers may produce generic versions of this drug. The manufacturer listed reflects the most frequently reported brand in FDA adverse event data.

What other side effects have been reported for Ambrisentan?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Ambrisentan include: Fatigue, Dizziness, Nausea, Fluid Retention, Malaise. Less common side effects can still be clinically significant. Patients should report any unusual symptoms to their healthcare provider.

How do I report a side effect from Ambrisentan?

You can report adverse events from Ambrisentan to the FDA through their MedWatch program at www.fda.gov/medwatch, by calling 1-800-FDA-1088, or by completing Form FDA 3500. Healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers can all submit reports. Reporting helps the FDA monitor drug safety after approval.

What is Ambrisentan's safety score and what does it mean?

Ambrisentan has a safety concern score of 78 out of 100 (high concern). This score is calculated from the ratio of serious to non-serious adverse events, the diversity of reported reactions, and the overall volume of reports relative to usage. Ambrisentan reports a high serious event rate, particularly for respiratory and cardiovascular issues.

What are the key safety signals for Ambrisentan?

Key safety signals identified in Ambrisentan's adverse event data include: High rate of serious events (64.8%). Frequent reports of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Common occurrence of fluid retention and dyspnea. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Ambrisentan interact with other drugs?

Ambrisentan is contraindicated in patients with severe hepatic impairment and should be used with caution in patients with renal impairment. It may interact with other drugs that affect blood pressure, such as ACE inhibitors and diuretics. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Ambrisentan.

What should patients know before taking Ambrisentan?

Patients should report any symptoms of respiratory distress or cardiovascular issues to their healthcare provider immediately. Avoid driving or operating heavy machinery if experiencing dizziness or fatigue.

Are Ambrisentan side effects well-documented?

Ambrisentan has 240,584 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. Pulmonary arterial hypertension and fluid retention are among the most frequently reported adverse reactions. The volume of reports for Ambrisentan reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Ambrisentan?

The FDA has issued a black box warning for ambrisentan due to the risk of pulmonary arterial hypertension and other serious cardiovascular events. Regular monitoring of blood pressure and pulmonary function is recommended. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

Related Drugs

Drugs related to AMBRISENTAN based on therapeutic use, drug class, or shared indications:

ACE inhibitorsDiureticsBeta-blockersCalcium channel blockersNSAIDs
Important Disclaimer: This content is generated by AI analysis of FDA adverse event reports and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Adverse event reports submitted to the FDA do not prove that a medication caused the reported side effect. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. If you experience a serious side effect, contact your doctor or call 911 immediately.