Mavacamten
About Mavacamten
Mavacamten is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). It helps reduce excessive thickening and stiffness of the heart muscle, allowing the heart to pump blood more effectively and improving symptoms such as shortness of breath and reduced exercise tolerance.
Take Mavacamten exactly as prescribed, usually once daily at the same time each day. It can be taken with or without food. Regular medical checkups and heart imaging are essential during treatment to monitor how well the heart is pumping.
Common side effects may include dizziness and fainting. Seek immediate medical attention if you develop new or worsening shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting, or swelling of the legs, as these may indicate reduced heart function.
Do not take Mavacamten during pregnancy because it may harm the developing baby. Before starting treatment, tell your doctor if you have heart problems, liver disease, or any other medical condition that may affect treatment safety.
Mavacamten can interact with several medicines and grapefruit products, which may increase or decrease its levels in the body and affect heart function. Tell your doctor about all medicines, supplements, and herbal products you take. If you are breastfeeding, discuss the potential risks and benefits with your doctor before using Mavacamten.
Medicinal Benefits
Mavacamten helps improve symptoms in adults with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy by reducing excessive heart muscle contraction and easing the blockage of blood leaving the heart. This can improve blood flow and make everyday activities more comfortable.
Benefits may include:
- Helps reduce shortness of breath during physical activity by improving the heart's ability to pump blood.
- May improve exercise capacity, making activities such as walking, climbing stairs, and performing household tasks easier.
- May reduce symptoms such as dizziness and lightheadedness associated with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
- Helps improve daily functioning and overall quality of life by reducing symptoms caused by heart muscle obstruction.
- May reduce the need for septal reduction therapy in some appropriately selected patients.
- Supports long-term symptom management when taken under regular cardiology supervision.
Directions for Use
- Mavacamten can be taken with or without food, or as advised by your doctor.
- Mavacamten is usually taken once a day, or as prescribed by your doctor.
- Swallow Mavacamten as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not crush, break, or chew it.
Storage
Side Effects of Mavacamten
Common Side Effects (Usually mild)
- Dizziness
- Fainting (syncope)
- Mild shortness of breath
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away)
- New or worsening shortness of breath
- Sudden swelling in your ankles, feet, or legs
- A sudden, rapid weight gain of several pounds in a few days
- Extreme, unusual fatigue or weakness
- Signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as a skin rash, hives, swelling of the face, lips, or throat, and difficulty breathing
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Keep all monitoring appointments: You must get regular heart ultrasounds (echocardiograms) to ensure your heart's pumping strength remains at a safe level.
- Share your complete medicine list: Always tell every doctor, dentist, and pharmacist you visit that you are taking Mavacamten, as it interacts with many other treatments.
- Use effective birth control: If you can become pregnant, you must use reliable contraception during treatment and for at least 4 months after your final dose.
- Avoid starting new remedies: Never begin taking any new prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, or herbal products without consulting your doctor first.
- Track your symptoms daily: Note any sudden changes in your breathing or swelling in your legs, and contact your healthcare provider immediately if they occur.
- Do not stop other heart medicines: Continue your prescribed HCM medicines unless your cardiologist advises a change.
- Follow monitoring requirements: Mavacamten can weaken heart function, so regular echocardiograms and pregnancy testing when applicable may be required.
- Who Should NOT Take Mavacamten: It may not be suitable if your heart pumping function is too low, you have non-obstructive HCM, or take medicines that significantly affect Mavacamten levels.
Drug Interactions
- Blood pressure medicines (e.g., metoprolol, propranolol): These medicines may be used with Mavacamten in some patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, but the combination requires careful medical supervision. Do not stop or change either medicine without your cardiologist's advice.
- Heart rhythm medicines (e.g., disopyramide): These medicines may be used as part of an HCM treatment plan, but combining them with Mavacamten requires careful assessment and monitoring by your cardiologist.
- Anti-tuberculosis medicines (e.g., rifampicin): These medicines may lower Mavacamten levels and reduce its effectiveness. Your doctor will determine whether the combination is appropriate.
- Anti-seizure medicines (e.g., carbamazepine): These medicines may lower Mavacamten levels and reduce its effectiveness. Tell your doctor before starting or stopping these medicines.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionIt is unknown whether alcohol interacts with Mavacamten. However, it is advised to avoid alcohol when taking this medicine as a precaution.
Pregnancy
unsafeMavacamten is a Category D pregnancy drug and is not recommended for use during pregnancy as it may cause harm to the unborn baby.
Breast Feeding
cautionMavacamten is known to pass through the breast milk. So, it is recommended to consult your doctor during breastfeeding. However, your doctor may prescribe it for you during breastfeeding if he/she feels that the benefit to you outweighs the risk.
Driving
cautionMavacamten may cause side effects such as dizziness or fatigue. If you feel dizzy or tired when taking this medicine, do not drive or use any tools or machines.
Liver
cautionMavacamten should be used with caution if you have severe liver disease. Please consult your doctor if you have liver problems or any concerns regarding this.
Kidney
cautionMavacamten should be used with caution if you have severe kidney disease. Please consult your doctor if you have kidney problems or any concerns regarding this.
Children
unsafeMavacamten is not recommended for children as the safety and effectiveness have not been established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Stay consistently hydrated: Dehydration can increase the blockage of blood flow in your heart. Drink steady amounts of fluids throughout the day as advised by your doctor.
- Limit or avoid alcohol: Alcohol can dehydrate you and disrupt your heart rate, which may worsen symptoms of your condition.
- Manage salt intake: Follow a balanced, low-sodium diet to prevent fluid retention, which can place extra strain on your heart.
- Avoid strenuous exercise: Stick to moderate, low-impact activities like walking. Avoid sudden, intense physical exertion that can overload your thickened heart muscle.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: It is a condition in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick, especially in the walls of the left ventricle, which can block or reduce the flow of blood leaving the heart. This makes it harder for the heart to pump blood effectively and may lead to symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, or fatigue.
FAQs
Mavacamten is used to treat obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart muscle thickens and obstructs blood flow.
Mavacamten works by controlling how the heart muscle contracts and relaxes. It reduces the interaction between actin and myosin (proteins that help the heart muscle contract), so the heart does not squeeze too strongly. This helps improve blood flow and relieve symptoms such as breathlessness, chest pain, and tiredness.
Mavacamten should be taken in the dose and for the duration advised by your doctor. Do not stop taking Mavacamten on your own, as this may worsen your condition and increase the risk of serious heart problems. Always consult your doctor before making any changes.
Mavacamten can cause dizziness as a side effect. If you feel dizzy, try getting up slowly from a sitting or lying position. If your dizziness is severe or unmanageable, please seek medical advice.
Mavacamten should be used with caution in people with kidney diseases. The doctor may adjust the dose based on the medical conditions of the affected person.
No, Mavacamten is not a habit-forming medicine. However, take Mavacamten as advised by the doctor. Do not exceed the prescribed dose.
Mavacamten should be used with caution in people with liver diseases. The doctor may adjust the dose based on the medical conditions of the affected person.
Do not stop taking Mavacamten without consulting your doctor, as it might cause a relapse of symptoms or make them worse. To treat your condition effectively, continue taking Mavacamten for as long as it has been prescribed. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns.
The side effects of Mavacamten include dizziness, fatigue, and fainting. If these side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
Mavacamten is an oral capsule used to treat symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM) in adults. This is a condition where the heart muscle thickens, making it harder for blood to flow out of the heart. Consult your doctor to see if Mavacamten is appropriate for you.
No, you should not take Mavacamten if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, as it can cause serious harm to an unborn baby. Women who are able to get pregnant must use effective birth control during treatment and for 4 months after the last dose. Consult your doctor to discuss safe family planning options.
No, you must avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice while taking Mavacamten. Grapefruit interferes with how your body processes Mavacamten, which can cause its levels to rise dangerously and increase the risk of heart failure.
Many patients begin to notice improvements in their breathing and energy levels within the first few weeks of starting treatment, though the full benefits may take longer as your dose is gradually adjusted.
Not necessarily. Mavacamten is one treatment option for symptomatic obstructive HCM. Your cardiologist may continue, change, or stop other medicines such as beta-blockers depending on your symptoms, heart function, and other treatments. Some patients with severe obstruction may also be considered for septal reduction therapy. Do not stop or change any prescribed HCM medicine without medical advice.
Mavacamten may require special prescribing, dispensing, and heart monitoring because it can weaken the heart's pumping ability. Availability and monitoring requirements vary by country. If your local pharmacy does not stock it, ask your cardiologist or pharmacist about the approved way to obtain it safely.
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