Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Desirudin


Generic Name: desirudin (deh sih rue din)

Brand Names: Iprivask


What is desirudin?

Desirudin is an anticoagulant (blood thinner). Desirudin prevents the formation of blood clots.


Desirudin is used to prevent deep vein thrombosis (a type of blood clot), which may lead to pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung), in patients undergoing hip replacement surgery.


Desirudin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.


What is the most important information I should know about desirudin?


There is a risk of bleeding in the spinal or epidural space, possibly resulting in paralysis, when desirudin is used along with spinal or epidural anesthesia or spinal puncture. This risk may be increased by the use of indwelling epidural catheters or by the concomitant use of drugs that affect blood clotting.


Desirudin is intended for subcutaneous (into the fat) injection. Do not inject this medication intramuscularly (into the muscle) or intravenously (into the vein). Do not take aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, and others), ketoprofen (Orudis KT, Orudis, Oruvail), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Anaprox, and others), indomethacin (Indocin), or any other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication without first talking to your doctor. These medicines may lead to bleeding when taken with desirudin. Ask your pharmacist or doctor before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medication while taking desirudin.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using desirudin?


Do not use desirudin if you

  • have an irreversible coagulation disorder;




  • have uncontrolled active bleeding;




  • have an allergy to desirudin or other blood thinners; or




  • cannot have accurate blood testing done prior to and during dosing.



Before using desirudin, tell your doctor if you



  • have bacterial endocarditis;




  • have high blood pressure that is not being controlled;




  • need to have or have recently had surgery, a biopsy, or another invasive procedure;




  • have a history of stroke or bleeding in the brain;




  • have a history of bleeding in the eyes (hemorrhagic retinopathy);




  • have eye problems due to diabetes (diabetic retinopathy);




  • have hemophilia or another blood disorder;




  • have a stomach ulcer;



  • have liver disease; or

  • have kidney disease.

You may not be able to use desirudin, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during therapy if you have any of the conditions listed above.


Desirudin is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether it will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not use desirudin without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether desirudin passes into breast milk. Do not use this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I use desirudin?


Desirudin will probably be administered by a healthcare professional. If you are using desirudin at home, administer the medication exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist to explain them to you.


Desirudin is intended for subcutaneous (into the fat) injection. Do not inject this medication intramuscularly (into the muscle) or intravenously (into the vein). Do not mix desirudin with other injections or infusions.

If you are using the medication at home, your doctor or nurse will give you detailed instructions on how to inject desirudin. It should be injected into the fat of the stomach or the upper thighs. Follow your doctor's instructions.


Sit or lie down before receiving an injection. Lift a fold of skin and insert the needle completely into the fold. The whole length of the needle should be introduced into the skin fold and the skin fold should be held throughout the injection. To lessen bruising, do not rub the area after injecting the medication. Rotate the injection sites as directed by your doctor.


Do not use any vial of desirudin that is discolored or that has particles in it. Do not stop using this medication without first talking to your doctor.

It is important to use desirudin regularly to get the most benefit.


Your doctor may want you to have blood tests or other medical evaluations during treatment with desirudin to monitor progress and side effects.


Store desirudin at room temperature away from moisture and heat. After mixing the solution for injection, it can be stored for up to 24 hours at room temperature. Any unused medication should be discarded after 24 hours.

What happens if I miss a dose?


Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of desirudin.


What happens if I overdose?


Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose of desirudin is suspected.

Symptoms of an overdose may include unusual bleeding from wounds or injection sites; nosebleeds; black, bloody, or tarry stools; blood in the urine; and easy bruising or bleeding.


What should I avoid while using desirudin?


Do not take aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, and others), ketoprofen (Orudis KT, Orudis, Oruvail), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Anaprox, and others), indomethacin (Indocin), or any other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication without first talking to your doctor. These medicines may lead to bleeding when taken with desirudin. Ask your pharmacist or doctor before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medication while taking desirudin.

Desirudin side effects


If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop using desirudin, and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:

  • an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);




  • any prolonged or unexplained bleeding;




  • pain, warmth, or redness in an arm or leg, or difficulty breathing, which could indicate a blood clot; or




  • ulceration at the injection site.



Other less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to use desirudin and notify your doctor if you experience



  • mild pain, redness, or warmth at the injection site;




  • anemia (low level of red blood cells detected by blood tests); or




  • nausea.



Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.


Desirudin Dosing Information


Usual Adult Dose for Deep Vein Thrombosis -- Prophylaxis:

15 mg subcutaneously every 12 hours with the initial dose given up to 5 to 15 minutes prior to surgery, but after induction of regional block anesthesia (if used).

Up to 12 days administration (9 to 12 days on average) of desirudin has been well tolerated in controlled clinical trials.


What other drugs will affect desirudin?


There is a risk of bleeding in the spinal or epidural space, possibly resulting in paralysis, when desirudin is used along with spinal or epidural anesthesia or spinal puncture. This risk may be increased by the use of indwelling epidural catheters or by the concomitant use of drugs that affect blood clotting.


Do not use desirudin with any of the following medicines without first talking to your doctor:

  • aspirin,




  • ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, and others), ketoprofen (Orudis KT, Orudis, Oruvail), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Anaprox, and others), indomethacin (Indocin), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), fenoprofen (Nalfon), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), ketorolac (Toradol), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac (Clinoril), tolmetin (Tolectin), or any other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication;




  • dalteparin (Fragmin), danaparoid (Orgaran), enoxaparin (Lovenox), tinzaparin (Innohep);




  • warfarin (Coumadin);




  • aspirin and dipyridamole (Aggrenox);




  • ticlopidine (Ticlid) or clopidogrel (Plavix); or




  • dipyridamole (Persantine).



The drugs listed above may increase the effects of desirudin, which could become dangerous. You may not be able to take desirudin, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.


Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with desirudin. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before using any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products.



More desirudin resources


  • Desirudin Side Effects (in more detail)
  • Desirudin Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
  • Desirudin Drug Interactions
  • Desirudin Support Group
  • 0 Reviews for Desirudin - Add your own review/rating


  • desirudin Subcutaneous Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information

  • Desirudin Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)

  • Desirudin Monograph (AHFS DI)

  • Desirudin MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

  • Iprivask Prescribing Information (FDA)



Compare desirudin with other medications


  • Deep Vein Thrombosis, Prophylaxis


Where can I get more information?


  • Your pharmacist has additional information about desirudin written for health professionals that you may read.

What does my medication look like?


Desirudin is available with a prescription under the brand name Iprivask. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.


See also: desirudin side effects (in more detail)



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