| Pharmacy Drug Brand Name: | Aggrastat® |
| Active Ingredient(s): | tirofiban hydrochloride |
| Strength(s) / Dose(s): | 50mcg/ml and 250 mcg/ml |
| Delivery / Dosage Form(s): | Injection |
| Company Manufacturer Name: | Merck & Co., Inc. |
| Availability / Prescription: | Prescription only |
| Date Approved by FDA *: | May 14, 1998 |
* Approval by the FDA does not necessarily mean that this drug is available for consumers at this time.
What is Aggrastat used for?
Aggrastat is used for patients having chest pain or discomfort that lasts longer than typical angina and that is not controlled by the medicines that are usually effective for angina. Aggrastat prevents blood clots from forming, thereby reducing the number of patients having heart attacks or needing heart surgery.
Who should not be treated with Aggrastat?
You should not be given Aggrastat if you ever had the following conditions:
- Bleeding in the brain, brain tumor or ballooning of a blood vessel in the brain
- History of reduced number of platelets in the blood from prior treatment with Aggrastat
You should not be given Aggrastat if within the past 30 days you have had:
- Medical diagnosis of internal bleeding or of unusual tendency toward bleeding
- Medical diagnosis of stroke
- Major surgery or trauma
You should also not be given Aggrastat if now:
- Your doctor sees signs of ongoing injury to the aorta (the large blood vessel that carries blood from the heart) or signs of pericarditis (inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart)
- You have very high blood pressure (greater than 180/110)
- You are being treated with eptifibatide (Integrilin)
General Precautions:
Aggrastat should be used with caution if you have a decreased blood platelet count or disease or damage of the retina of the eye associated with bleeding.
What should I tell my doctor or health care (healthcare) provider?
Because certain medications can interact with Aggrastat, review all medications that you are taking with your doctor, including those that you take without a prescription. Tell your doctor if you are taking another drug that affects blood clotting such as Coumadin or warfain.
What are some possible side effects of Aggrastat? (This is not a comprehensive list of possible side effects assosciated with Aggrastat. Your doctor or pharmacist can provide expert advice on the possible side effects of this drug.)
The most common complication reported during testing of the product was excessive bleeding. The increased bleeding is why some people (those who have had recent surgery, and other examples mentioned above) should not be given Aggrastat.
Other possible side effects occurring in at least 3% or more of the people studied:
- Pelvic pain or discomfort
- Slow heart rate
- Tear in the coronary artery
- Leg pain or discomfort
- Dizziness