Find out why Adempas (Riociguat) is so hard to find in 2026. Learn about REMS restrictions, specialty pharmacy requirements, and how to locate it near you.
You've got a prescription for Adempas (Riociguat) in hand, but when you call your local pharmacy, they don't carry it. You try another one — same story. It can feel like this medication has vanished from shelves entirely.
The truth is, Adempas isn't like most prescriptions. There are specific reasons it's so difficult to track down, and once you understand them, finding your medication becomes a lot less frustrating. Let's break it down.
Adempas (Riociguat) is a prescription medication used to treat two serious forms of pulmonary hypertension — high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs:
Adempas works by stimulating an enzyme called soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), which helps widen blood vessels in the lungs, lower pulmonary blood pressure, and improve exercise capacity. It's manufactured by Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals and has been FDA-approved since October 2013.
For a deeper dive into how this medication works, check out our guide on how Adempas works.
There are several reasons why Adempas is harder to locate than your average prescription.
Adempas carries a boxed warning — the FDA's most serious safety alert — because it can cause severe birth defects and miscarriage if taken during pregnancy. Because of this risk, Adempas is only available through a restricted distribution program called the Adempas REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy).
Under the REMS program:
This means your neighborhood CVS, Walgreens, or Rite Aid almost certainly cannot fill an Adempas prescription. Only REMS-certified specialty pharmacies can dispense it.
Adempas is classified as a specialty drug, which means it requires special handling, monitoring, and coordination between your doctor, your insurance company, and the pharmacy. Specialty medications are typically dispensed through a small network of specialty pharmacies — not the thousands of retail pharmacies most people use.
This limited distribution network creates bottlenecks. If your insurance plan works with a specific specialty pharmacy and that pharmacy is experiencing delays, you may face a gap in your medication supply.
Without insurance, Adempas costs approximately $14,000 to $15,000 per month (about $161 per tablet, taken three times daily). Even with insurance, many patients face high copays or coinsurance on specialty tier medications.
Some patients report delays while waiting for insurance prior authorization or appeals, which can make it seem like the drug is unavailable when it's really an insurance access issue rather than a supply issue.
For tips on reducing costs, see our guide on how to save money on Adempas.
PAH and CTEPH are relatively rare diseases. Because the patient population is small compared to common conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes, fewer pharmacies stock Adempas. There's simply less demand at the local level, which means fewer distribution points.
Even though Adempas has more hoops to jump through than most medications, there are practical steps you can take to get your prescription filled.
Instead of calling pharmacy after pharmacy, use Medfinder to search for pharmacies that currently have Adempas in stock near you. Medfinder checks real-time availability so you don't waste time calling places that can't help.
Your prescriber's office is often your best ally. Since they must be enrolled in the Adempas REMS program, they typically have relationships with certified specialty pharmacies and can help coordinate your prescription directly. Ask your doctor's nurse or coordinator to help initiate the specialty pharmacy process.
Bayer offers the Aim Patient Support Program, which helps patients navigate insurance coverage, find certified pharmacies, and access financial assistance. You can reach them at 855-423-3672 or through their savings programs.
Most specialty pharmacies that dispense Adempas offer home delivery — often with temperature-controlled shipping and pharmacist consultations. This can be more convenient than trying to pick up at a physical location.
If you're running low and having trouble getting a refill, contact your specialty pharmacy at least two weeks before you run out. Specialty medications can take longer to process due to insurance requirements, so planning ahead is essential.
Adempas is hard to find not because there's a shortage, but because of the REMS restrictions, specialty pharmacy requirements, and insurance hurdles built into how it's distributed. Understanding these barriers is the first step to navigating them.
If you're struggling to locate Adempas, start with Medfinder to check pharmacy availability, talk to your prescriber's office about the REMS enrollment process, and consider reaching out to the Aim Patient Support Program for additional help.
You can also explore related topics like alternatives to Adempas or finding a doctor who can prescribe Adempas near you.
You focus on staying healthy. We'll handle the rest.
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