COMBINATION DRUG THERAPIES OF PDE-5 INHIBITORS AND INHALED NITRIC OXIDE

1 . A method for preventing an additive hemodynamic effect when treating a patient with a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition for treatment of hypertension, the method comprising co-administering with said pharmaceutical composition a therapeutically effective amount of inhaled nitric oxide.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the nitric oxide is delivered in a pulsatile manner by:

a. Detecting a breath pattern in said patient including a total inspiratory time;

b. Correlating the breath pattern with an algorithm to calculate the timing of administration of the dose of nitric oxide; and

c. Delivering the nitric oxide to said patient in a pulsatile manner over a portion of the total inspiratory time.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is a PDE-5 inhibitor.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the PDE-5 inhibitor is sildenafil.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the PDE-5 inhibitor is tadalafil.

6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the PDE-5 inhibitor is vardenafil.

7 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the PDE-5 inhibitor is a non-specific PDE-5 inhibitor.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the non-specific PDE-5 inhibitor is selected from dipyridamole and theophylline.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is riociguat.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein delivery of the dose of nitric oxide occurs within the first half of the total inspiratory time.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the nitric oxide is delivered in a series of pulses over a period of time.

12 . A method for preventing a systemic, additive decrease in blood pressure in a patient being treated for hypertension while improving the overall treatment of said hypertension, said method comprising co-administering a PDE-5 inhibitor and inhaled nitric oxide.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the nitric oxide is delivered by:

a. Detecting a breath pattern in said patient, said breath pattern having a total inspiratory time and a total expiratory time;

b. Correlating the breath pattern with an algorithm to calculate the timing of administration of a dose of nitric oxide; and

c. Delivering said dose of nitric oxide to said patient in a pulsatile manner over a portion of the total inspiratory time for a period of time required for a therapeutically effective amount of nitric oxide to be delivered to said patient.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the PDE-5 inhibitor is sildenafil.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the PDE-5 inhibitor is tadalafil.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the PDE-5 inhibitor is vardenafil.

17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the PDE-5 inhibitor is a non-specific PDE-5 inhibitor.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the non-specific PDE-5 inhibitor is selected from dipyridamole and theophylline.