Argatroban is a brand name for Argatroban. The medicine, its uses, side effects and dosage are the same regardless of brand.
Used for: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Argatroban is a direct thrombin inhibitor indicated: For prophylaxis or treatment of thrombosis in adult patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) ( 1.1 ) As an anticoagulant in adult patients with or at risk for HIT undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) ( 1.2 ) 1.1…
Verbatim from this product's FDA label. Tap a section to expand.
9% Sodium Chloride Injection, 5% Dextrose Injection, or Lactated Ringer’s Injection to a final concentration of 1 mg/mL. 1 ) Argatroban Injection 50 mg/50 mL (1 mg/mL) is ready for intravenous infusion. Dilution is not required. 1 ) Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia The dose for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia without hepatic impairment is 2 mcg/kg/min administered as a continuous infusion.
2 ) Percutaneous Coronary Intervention The dose for patients with or at risk for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention is started at 25 mcg/kg/min and a bolus of 350 mcg/kg administered via a large bore intravenous line over 3 to 5 minutes.
5 mL (100 mg/mL) must be diluted 100-fold prior to infusion. Argatroban should not be mixed with other drugs prior to dilution. Dilution is not required for Argatroban Injection 50 mg/50 mL (1 mg/mL). 9% Sodium Chloride Injection, 5% Dextrose Injection, or Lactated Ringer’s Injection to a final concentration of 1 mg/mL.
5-mL vial should be diluted 100-fold by mixing with 250 mL of diluent. 5 mL) per 250 mL of diluent or 500 mg (5 mL) per 500 mL of diluent. The constituted solution must be mixed by repeated inversion of the diluent bag for 1 minute. Upon preparation, the solution may show slight but brief haziness due to the formation of microprecipitates that rapidly dissolve upon mixing.
Use of diluent at room temperature is recommended. Colder temperatures can slow down the rate of dissolution of precipitates. The final solution must be clear before use. 5. Solutions prepared as recommended are stable at controlled room temperature, 20º to 25ºC (68º to 77ºF) (see USP) in ambient indoor light for 24 hours; therefore, light-resistant measures such as foil protection for intravenous lines are unnecessary.
Solutions are physically and chemically stable for up to 96 hours when protected from light and stored at controlled room temperature, 20º to 25ºC (68º to 77ºF) (see USP) or at refrigerated conditions, 5º±3ºC (41º±5ºF). Prepared solutions should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
No significant potency losses have been noted following simulated delivery of the solution through intravenous tubing. Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration whenever solution and container permit.
1) ] .
HIT patients:
The most common (>5%) adverse reactions were dyspnea, hypotension, fever, diarrhea, sepsis, and cardiac arrest. 1) PCI patients: The most common (>5%) adverse reactions were chest pain, hypotension, back pain, nausea, vomiting and headache.
1) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. gov/medwatch . 1 Clinical Trials Experience Adverse Reactions in Patients with HIT (With or Without Thrombosis) Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
The following safety information is based on all 568 patients treated with argatroban in Study 1 and Study 2. The safety profile of the patients from these studies is compared with that of 193 historical controls in which the adverse reactions were collected retrospectively.
Adverse reactions are separated into hemorrhagic and non-hemorrhagic reactions. Major bleeding was defined as bleeding that was overt and associated with a hemoglobin decrease ≥ 2 g/dL, that led to a transfusion of ≥ 2 units, or that was intracranial, retroperitoneal, or into a major prosthetic joint.
Minor bleeding was overt bleeding that did not meet the criteria for major bleeding. Table 4 gives an overview of the most frequently observed hemorrhagic reactions, presented separately by major and minor bleeding, sorted by decreasing occurrence among argatroban-treated patients with HIT (with or without thrombosis).
8 * with or without thrombosis a) Patients may have experienced more than 1 adverse reaction. b) One patient experienced intracranial hemorrhage 4 days after discontinuation of argatroban and following therapy with urokinase and oral anticoagulation.
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Hemorrhage can occur. Unexplained fall in hematocrit or blood pressure may indicate hemorrhage. 1 ) Hepatic impairment: Adjust starting dose and titrate carefully in patients with HIT who have moderate or severe hepatic impairment.
Avoid use in PCI in patients with clinically significant hepatic impairment. 1 Risk of Hemorrhage Hemorrhage can occur at any site in the body in patients receiving argatroban. Unexplained fall in hematocrit or blood pressure may indicate hemorrhage.
1 )] have been reported. The risk of hemorrhage with argatroban may be increased in severe hypertension; immediately following lumbar puncture, spinal anesthesia, major surgery (especially involving the brain, spinal cord, or eye), hematologic conditions associated with increased bleeding tendencies such as congenital or acquired bleeding disorders, and gastrointestinal lesions such as ulcerations.
Concomitant use of argatroban with antiplatelet agents, thrombolytics, and other anticoagulants may increase the risk of bleeding. 2 Use in Hepatic Impairment When administering argatroban to patients with hepatic impairment, start with a lower dose and carefully titrate until the desired level of anticoagulation is achieved.
6) ] . 3) ]. Avoid the use of high doses of argatroban in patients undergoing PCI who have clinically significant hepatic disease or AST/ALT levels ≥3 times the upper limit of normal. 3 Laboratory Tests Anticoagulation effects associated with argatroban infusion at doses up to 40 mcg/kg/min correlate with increases of the aPTT.
Although other global clot-based tests including prothrombin time (PT), the International Normalized Ratio (INR), and thrombin time (TT) are affected by argatroban, the therapeutic ranges for these tests have not been identified for argatroban therapy.
In clinical trials in PCI, the ACT was used for monitoring argatroban anticoagulant activity during the procedure. 2) ].
1) ] Patients with a history of hypersensitivity to argatroban. 1) ] Major bleeding (4) History of hypersensitivity to this product (4)
Not medical advice. Always read the patient information leaflet and follow your prescriber or pharmacist.
Know a brand we are missing in United States of America? Suggest a brand →
Brand names are compiled from public regulatory records for active-ingredient mapping only. Drugvu is not affiliated with any manufacturer. This is not medical advice.
Argatroban Injection 50 mg/50 mL (1 mg/mL) Each 50 mL glass vial contains 50 mg argatroban (1 mg/mL); and, as supplied, is ready for intravenous infusion. Dilution is not required. Argatroban Injection is a clear, colorless to pale yellow solution.
Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration whenever solution and container permit. Do not use if solution is cloudy, contains precipitates, or if the flip top cap is not intact.
Vial may be inverted for use with a medical infusion set. 2 Dosing in Patients with Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia Initial Dosage Before administering argatroban, discontinue heparin therapy and obtain a baseline activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT).
The recommended initial dose of argatroban for adult patients without hepatic impairment is 2 mcg/kg/min, administered as a continuous infusion (see Table 1). 5 to 3 times the initial baseline value (not to exceed 100 seconds). Tests of anticoagulant effects (including the aPTT) typically attain steady-state levels within 1 to 3 hours following initiation of Argatroban Injection.
Check the aPTT 2 hours after initiation of therapy and after any dose change to confirm that the patient has attained the desired therapeutic range. 1) ]. 3 Dosing in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Initial Dosage Initiate an infusion of Argatroban Injection at 25 mcg/kg/min and administer a bolus of 350 mcg/kg via a large bore intravenous line over 3 to 5 minutes (see Table 2).
Check an activated clotting time (ACT) 5 to 10 minutes after the bolus dose is completed. The PCI procedure may proceed if the ACT is greater than 300 seconds. Dosage Adjustment If the ACT is less than 300 seconds, an additional intravenous bolus dose of 150 mcg/kg should be administered, the infusion dose increased to 30 mcg/kg/min, and the ACT checked 5 to 10 minutes later (see Table 3).
If the ACT is greater than 450 seconds, decrease the infusion rate to 15 mcg/kg/min, and check the ACT 5 to 10 minutes later (Table 3). Continue titrating the dose until a therapeutic ACT (between 300 and 450 seconds) has been achieved; continue the same infusion rate for the duration of the PCI procedure.
In case of dissection, impending abrupt closure, thrombus formation during the procedure, or inability to achieve or maintain an ACT over 300 seconds, additional bolus doses of 150 mcg/kg may be administered and the infusion dose increased to 40 mcg/kg/min.
Check the ACT after each additional bolus or change in the rate of infusion. 2 lbs †Additional intravenous bolus dose of 150 mcg/kg should be administered if ACT less than 300 seconds. * No bolus dose is given if ACT greater than 450 seconds Monitoring Therapy For use in PCI, therapy with Argatroban Injection is monitored using ACT.
Obtain ACTs before dosing, 5 to 10 minutes after bolus dosing, following adjustments in the infusion rate, and at the end of the PCI procedure. Obtain additional ACTs every 20 to 30 minutes during prolonged procedure. 1) ] . 5 mcg/kg/min is recommended, based on the approximately 4-fold decrease in argatroban clearance relative to those with normal hepatic function.
Monitor the aPTT closely, and adjust the dosage as clinically indicated. Monitoring Therapy Achievement of steady state aPTT levels may take longer and require more dose adjustments in patients with hepatic impairment compared to patients with normal hepatic function.
For patients with hepatic impairment undergoing PCI and who have HIT or are at risk for HIT, carefully titrate argatroban until the desired level of anticoagulation is achieved. 2) ]. 5 Conversion to Oral Anticoagulant Therapy Initiating Oral Anticoagulant Therapy When converting patients from argatroban to oral anticoagulant therapy, consider the potential for combined effects on INR with co-administration of argatroban and warfarin.
A loading dose of warfarin should not be used. Initiate therapy using the expected daily dose of warfarin. To avoid prothrombotic effects and to ensure continuous anticoagulation when initiating warfarin, it is suggested that argatroban and warfarin therapy be overlapped.
There are insufficient data available to recommend the duration of the overlap. Co-Administration of Warfarin and Argatroban Injection at Doses up to 2 mcg/kg/min Measure INR daily while Argatroban Injection and warfarin are co-administered.
In general, with doses of Argatroban Injection up to 2 mcg/kg/min, Argatroban Injection can be discontinued when the INR is >4 on combined therapy. After Argatroban Injection is discontinued, repeat the INR measurement in 4 to 6 hours.
If the repeat INR is below the desired therapeutic range, resume the infusion of Argatroban Injection and repeat the procedure daily until the desired therapeutic range on warfarin alone is reached. Co-Administration of Warfarin and Argatroban Injection at Doses Greater than 2 mcg/kg/min For doses of argatroban greater than 2 mcg/kg/min, the relationship of INR between warfarin alone to the INR on warfarin plus argatroban is less predictable.
In this case, in order to predict the INR on warfarin alone, temporarily reduce the dose of Argatroban Injection to a dose of 2 mcg/kg/min. Repeat the INR on Argatroban Injection and warfarin 4 to 6 hours after reduction of the Argatroban Injection dose and follow the process outlined above for administering Argatroban Injection at doses up to 2 mcg/kg/min.
c) The historical control group consisted of patients with a clinical diagnosis of HIT (with or without thrombosis) that were considered eligible by an independent medical panel. DIC = disseminated intravascular coagulation. BKA = below the knee amputation.
Table 5 gives an overview of the most frequently observed non-hemorrhagic reactions sorted by decreasing frequency of occurrence (≥2%) among argatroban-treated HIT/HITTS patients. 1 a) Patients may have experienced more than 1 adverse reaction.
b) With or without thrombosis c) The historical control group consisted of patients with a clinical diagnosis of HIT (with or without thrombosis) that were considered eligible by an independent medical panel. Adverse Reactions in Patients with or at Risk for HIT Undergoing PCI The following safety information is based on 91 patients initially treated with argatroban and 21 patients subsequently re-exposed to argatroban for a total of 112 PCIs with argatroban anticoagulation.
Adverse reactions are separated into hemorrhagic (Table 6) and non-hemorrhagic (Table 7) reactions. Major bleeding was defined as bleeding that was overt and associated with a hemoglobin decrease ≥5 g/dL, that led to a transfusion of ≥2 units, or that was intracranial, retroperitoneal, or into a major prosthetic joint.
8%. 9 a) Patients may have experienced more than 1 adverse reaction. b) 91 patients who underwent 112 interventions. CABG = coronary artery bypass graft. Table 7 gives an overview of the most frequently observed non-hemorrhagic adverse reactions (>2%), sorted by decreasing frequency of occurrence among argatroban-treated PCI patients.
6 a) Patients may have experienced more than 1 adverse reaction. b) 91 patients who underwent 112 interventions. 6% in 112 interventions). Table 8 lists the serious adverse reactions occurring in argatroban-treated patients with or at risk for HIT undergoing PCI.
9%) a) Individual reactions may also have been reported elsewhere (see Table 6 and 7). b) 91 patients underwent 112 procedures. Some patients may have experienced more than 1 reaction. Intracranial Bleeding in Other Populations Increased risks for intracranial bleeding have been observed in investigational studies of argatroban for other uses.
In a study of patients with acute myocardial infarction receiving both argatroban and thrombolytic therapy (streptokinase or tissue plasminogen activator), the overall frequency of intracranial bleeding was 1% (8 out of 810 patients).
4) ]. The safety and effectiveness of argatroban for cardiac indications other than PCI in patients with HIT have not been established. Intracranial bleeding was also observed in a prospective, placebo-controlled study of argatroban in patients who had onset of acute stroke within 12 hours of study entry.
3%) who received argatroban at 1 to 3 mcg/kg/min and in none of the 54 patients who received placebo. 7%) of the patients, respectively. Allergic Reactions One hundred fifty-six allergic reactions or suspected allergic reactions were observed in 1,127 individuals who were treated with argatroban in clinical pharmacology studies or for various clinical indications.
, streptokinase) or contrast media. Allergic reactions or suspected allergic reactions in populations other than patients with HIT (with or without thrombosis) include (in descending order of frequency): Airway reactions (coughing, dyspnea): 10% or more Skin reactions (rash, bullous eruption): 1 to <10% General reactions (vasodilation): 1 to 10% Limited data are available on the potential formation of drug-related antibodies.
Plasma from 12 healthy volunteers treated with argatroban over 6 days showed no evidence of neutralizing antibodies. No loss of anticoagulant activity was noted with repeated administration of argatroban to more than 40 patients. 2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during post approval use of ARGATROBAN.
Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Anaphylaxis