Drugs Information Center(DIC)

Dabigatran is a direct thrombin inhibitor, for the prevention of venous thromboembolic events in patients who have undergone total hip- or knee-replacement surgery. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) — occlusion of veins by blood clots — is the third most common cause of cardiovascular-associated death, after heart attacks and stroke. Without preventive treatment, patients undergoing hip- or knee-replacement surgery are at high risk of developing VTE2. Indeed, many clinical studies have demonstrated the importance of primary thromboprophylaxis in reducing morbidity and mortality for such patients. The serine protease thrombin is the final mediator in the coagulation cascade that leads to the production of fibrin, the main protein component of blood clots. Thrombin is also a potent activator of platelets. Consequently, thrombin has been a popular target for the development of novel anticoagulants. Several peptidic direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs) have been approved for clinical use in the p...

Class of drug : Thrombolytic agent. Mechanism of action : Converts fibrin-bound plasminogen to plasmin, which initiates local fibrinolysis (clot dissolution). Indications/dosage/route : IV only. Acute myocardial infarction : accelerated infusion: Ð Adults weighing more than 65 kg: Infuse 15 mg over 1–2 minutes; infuse 50 mg over next 30 min. Begin heparin 5000–10,000 units IV bolus followed by continuous infusion of 1000 units/h. Infuse 35 mg alteplase over next hour. Acute ischemic stroke Pulmonary embolism Contraindications: Patients treated for acute MI, pulmonary embolism, active internal bleeding, history of cerebrovascular accident, recent intracranial or intraspinal surgery or trauma, intracranial neoplasm, arteriovenous malformation or aneurysm, known bleeding diathesis, severe uncontrolled bleeding, severe uncontrolled hypertension. Warnings/precautions: Use with caution in patients with the following conditions: internal bleeding (intracranial, retroperitoneal, gastrointesti...