Eptifibatide

What it is used for

Eptifibatide injection is a platelet aggregation inhibitor indicated for: Treatment of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) managed medically or with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) Treatment of patients undergoing PCI (including intracoronary stenting) 1.1 Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) Eptifibatide injection is indicated to decrease the rate of a combined endpoint of death or new myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with ACS (unstable angina [UA]/non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction [NSTEMI]), including patients who are to be managed medically and those undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) Eptifibatide injection is indicated to decrease the rate of a combined endpoint of death, new MI, or need for urgent intervention in patients undergoing PCI, including those undergoing intracoronary stenting.

Side effects, and when to stop

The following serious adverse reaction is also discussed elsewhere in the labeling:

• Bleeding

Who should not take it

Treatment with eptifibatide is contraindicated in patients with:

• A history of bleeding diathesis, or evidence of active abnormal bleeding within the previous 30 days
• Severe hypertension (systolic blood pressure >200 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure >110 mm Hg) not adequately controlled on antihypertensive therapy
• Major surgery within the preceding 6 weeks
• History of stroke within 30 days or any history of hemorrhagic stroke
• Current or planned administration of another parenteral GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor
• Dependency on renal dialysis
• Hypersensitivity to eptifibatide or any component of the product (hypersensitivity reactions that occurred included anaphylaxis and urticaria)

2 dosage and administration

Eptifibatide injection in Galaxy container is for intravenous infusion only, not for intravenous bolus use. Before infusion of eptifibatide injection, the following laboratory tests should be performed to identify pre-existing hemostatic abnormalities: hematocrit or hemoglobin, platelet count, serum creatinine, and PT/aPTT. In patients undergoing PCI, the activated clotting time (ACT) should also be measured.

The activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) should be maintained between 50 and 70 seconds unless PCI is to be performed. In patients treated with heparin, bleeding can be minimized by close monitoring of the aPTT and ACT.