Aggrastat (tirofiban-injectable)

GENERIC NAME: TIROFIBAN - INJECTION (teer-OH-fih-ban)

BRAND NAME(S): Aggrastat

USES: Tirofiban is a type of "blood thinner" used to prevent blood clots that can cause a heart attack or other serious blood flow problems. It is used before certain procedures to open up the blood vessels in the heart (e.g., balloon angioplasty, coronary stent placement, percutaneous coronary intervention-PCI, coronary artery bypass graft-CABG). It is also used with other medications (e.g., nitrates, beta blockers) to stop or prevent a heart attack in people with continuing chest pain when the above procedures cannot be done. It is usually used with heparin and aspirin.Tirofiban works by preventing platelets in the blood from sticking to each other. When platelets stick to each other, they may form blood clots that may cause a heart attack or cause the opened blood vessel in the heart to close back up.
HOW TO USE: This medication is given by injection slowly into a vein over many hours by a health care professional, or given as directed by your doctor.The dosage is based on your weight, medical condition, planned procedure, and response to treatment.If you have certain heart procedures to open up the blood vessels in your heart (e.g., stent, PCI), you will need to lie very still after your procedure with your head up slightly. The tube for your procedure is usually placed near the groin. Keep the leg (or other limb nearest the tube) straight to prevent bleeding from the tube area. Pressure will be applied to the area (e.g., with a sandbag, special pressure dressing/device). You will not be allowed out of bed for several hours after the procedure.
SIDE EFFECTS: Dizziness or minor bleeding/irritation at the injection site may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.Serious bleeding is the most common serious side effect. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these signs of serious bleeding occur: bleeding/bruising/swelling/oozing around the area where the procedure tube was placed, uncontrolled nosebleed, fast/irregular heartbeat, pale/gray/bluish skin, pink/red urine, bloody/black/tarry stool, coughing up blood, vomit that looks like coffee grounds.Seek immediate medical attention if any of these signs of very serious bleeding occur: chest pain, vision problems, confusion, slurred speech, weakness on one side of the body.This medication may cause a serious decrease in blood platelets (thrombocytopenia). Tell your doctor immediately if you develop easy bleeding/bruising.A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.In the US -Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

PRECAUTIONS: Before using tirofiban, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies.This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: current bleeding, history of low platelets after receiving tirofiban, bleeding from the gut or bladder in the last 6 weeks (e.g., bleeding peptic ulcer), stroke in the last 30 days, certain heart problems (suspected aortic dissection, pericarditis), history of hemorrhagic stroke, major surgery/injury in the last 30 days, serious bleeding in last 30 days, brain tumor, blood vessel problem in the brain (e.g., bleeding, aneurysm, AV malformation), very high uncontrolled blood pressure.Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: stomach/intestinal problems (e.g., peptic ulcer, inflammatory bowel disease), low blood platelets (thrombocytopenia), bleeding in the eye (retinal hemorrhage), kidney disease (including dialysis), liver disease, recent spinal tap/lumbar puncture/spinal anesthesia.During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.It is not known whether this drug passes into breast milk. This medication could have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Therefore, breast-feeding is not recommended while using this drug. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

DRUG INTERACTIONS: Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: other "blood thinners" (e.g., warfarin) used in the last 7 days, NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen), anti-platelet drugs (e.g., dipyridamole, ticlopidine), tipranavir.Check all prescription and nonprescription medicine labels carefully since many contain pain relievers/fever reducers (NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin) that are similar to this drug.Tirofiban is often used with other "blood thinners" such as aspirin, clopidogrel, and heparin. Ask your doctor or pharmacist which medicines you need to take after leaving the hospital. Low-dose aspirin should be continued if prescribed by your doctor for heart attack or stroke prevention (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams a day). Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.

NOTES: Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., bleeding times, complete blood count) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

MISSED DOSE: If your dose is stopped or interrupted, contact the doctor immediately to establish a new dosing schedule/rate.

STORAGE: Store at room temperature at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Brief storage between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) is permitted. Do not freeze.Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.