AGGRASSTAT

Aggrasstat Information

Aggrasstat is an anticoagulant drug, more specifically a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor. Also known under the names of Aggribloc, Agrastat or Tirofiban, this drug has a strong anti-platelet effect. Currently this drug is only available under the form of a solution for intravenous infusion, in 50 ml vials.

Aggrasstat Indications

Aggrasstat is prescribed in combination with Heparin and / or – when possible – with Aspirin, for administration in patients with unstable angina and patients with acute coronary syndrome (including patients who may undergo atherectomy or PTCA). Administration of Aggrasstat may decrease the rate of occurrence of new myocardial infarction, refractory ischemia as well as the risk of death in these patients.

Aggrasstat Warnings

Aggrasstat should not be administered to patients that are allergic to any of the components of this medical product. Patients that have a history of bleeding disorders or patients with an active bleeding condition may not be administered this drug. Also, this drug should not be administered to patients who are suffering from or who have a medical history of aneurysm, neoplasm, intracranial hemorrhage, arteriovenous malformation, coagulopathy, thrombocytopenia or platelet disorder. Also, Aggrasstat should not be employed in the case of patients who have undergone any major surgical operation within the past 30 days, or who have suffered any severe physical trauma in that timeframe. Patients with a medical history of aortic dissection, hemorrhagic stroke or patients that have suffered a stroke within the past month or patients suffering from liver disease are also not able to receive an Aggrasstat administration.

Aggrasstat Intake Guidelines

In order to administer Aggrasstat Injection, the solution needs to be diluted. If you are using a 500 ml bag of sterile solution for infusion (either sodium chloride 0.9% or 5% dextrose in water) you should replace 100 ml of the solution with the content of two Aggrasstat vials; in the case of a 250 ml bag of sterile solution, only one vial of Aggrasstat will be inserted into the bag.

This drug may be administered to the patient along with Famotidine, Potassium Chloride, Lidocaine or Dopamine in the same IV line. However, a separate line should be used if the patient is also receiving Diazepam.

Aggrasstat Dosage

Aggrasstat dosage is typically of 0.4 mcg/kg/min initially for a duration of 30 minutes. After the 30 minutes pass administration should be continued with a dosage of 0.1 mcg/kg/min. This dosage may vary from one case to another, depending on the particularities of the case – for example, patients suffering from severe renal insufficiency may only receive a reduced dosage. For the appropriate Aggrasstat dosage to be employed, it is advised to consult the prescribing health care professional.

Aggrasstat Overdose

It is strongly recommended that the prescribed Aggrasstat dosage is never exceeded, as this may result in severe and possibly even lethal complications. The most common symptoms of an overdose with this drug are exhaustion, vomiting, severe bleeding and shortness of breath.

If you have any suspicions that you may be affected by an overdose, it is strongly suggested to go to the nearest medical facility where you will be able to receive emergency medical attention.

Aggrasstat Missed Dose

As Aggrasstat is administered only in certain situations and is not part of a regular medication regimen, it is not likely to miss any doses of the medicine. However, if you should have been administered this drug and you did not receive the intravenous infusion according to schedule, you are encouraged to contact an authorized health care specialist in order to obtain further information regarding your treatment course.

Aggrasstat Side Effects

Several patients undergoing treatment with Aggrasstat have experienced side effects. While rare, these may appear in certain situations. The most common side effect associated with this drug is bleeding – either systemic bleeding or local, at the site of the clinical intervention. 1.4 % of the patients undergoing treatment with this drug have experienced major bleeding, while minor bleeding was experienced in 10.5 % of the cases. In 4 % of the patients transfusions were required in order to stop the bleeding and to improve the symptoms of anemia caused by bleeding. Elderly patients were the most affected by bleeding episodes, with a higher rate of occurrence in women than in men.

Aggrasstat treatment may also lead to the appearance of thrombocytopenia, accompanied by such signs and symptoms as low grade fever, chills or bleeding complications. Other rare side effects associated with this medical product have been noted as well (such as retroperitoneal or intracranial bleeding, spinal-epidural hematoma or pulmonary hemorrhage); in some very rare cases such bleeding may lead to the death of the patient.

This drug may also cause allergic reactions. If the patient presents any symptoms of such a reaction it is strongly recommended that administration of the drug is immediately ceased and the patient is transported to the nearest medical facility in order to receive emergency medical attention.

Aggrasstat Drug Reactions

This drug may interact with certain other drugs and medications. As such, it is recommended that the prescribing health care professional is aware of all other drugs that the patient is currently taking, in order to avoid any possible accidental interaction.

Research has shown that, if administered at the same time with Aggrasstat, Warfarin or other anticoagulant medication may increase the patient’s risk of developing severe bleeding. In patients undergoing maintenance therapy with such drugs, the examining health care specialist will need to decide whether discontinuation of these drugs is possible prior to an Aggrasstat administration.

Other drugs and medications may interact with Aggrasstat. In order to obtain a complete list of possible drug interactions, it is recommended to consult a pharmacist, a doctor or a nurse.