Alteplase
Description
Alteplase is a thrombolytic agent used to dissolve unwanted blood clots. It is used for the treatment of Stroke (caused by blood clots blocking the blood vessels), blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolism), and also for the prevention of heart attack.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Alteplase
- Bleeding gums
- Difficulty in breathing
- Nosebleed
- Increased menstrual flow
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Black or Tarry stools
Uses of Alteplase
What is it prescribed for?
- Acute ischemic stroke
- Acute myocardial infarction
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Central Venous Catheter Occlusion
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe peak effect of this medicine can be observed within 20-50 minutes of the administration of dose.
- Duration of effectThe effect of this medicine lasts for an average duration of 4 hours.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit-forming tendencies were reported.
- Usage in pregnancy?This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.
- Usage while breast-feeding?This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.
Allergy
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known allergy to alteplase or any other inactive ingredients present along with it.
Bleeding
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients who have a current intracranial hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, active internal bleeding, or underwent any intracranial or intraspinal surgery or serious head trauma within the past 3 months due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition.
Severe uncontrolled hypertension
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with severe uncontrolled hypertension due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.
Breast-feeding
This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.
General warnings
Severe Bleeding
This medicine may increase the risk of bleeding, therefore should be used with caution in patients with any bleeding disorder. Inform the doctor if you have any gastrointestinal diseases, previous history of trauma, surgery, stroke or uncontrolled hypertension . Close monitoring is necessary and therapy should be discontinued in case of any signs of internal bleeding.
Severe allergic reactions
Risk of severe allergic reactions is associated with this medicine. The infusion should be discontinued and appropriate treatment should be initiated in case of any allergic reactions.
Use in children
There is only limited evidence on the safety and efficacy of the use of this medicine in children less than 16 years of age. It is strictly advised to use this medicine only under the supervision of a health care professional. However, your doctor may prescribe this medicine if the benefits significantly outweigh the risks. In such a case, the patient should be monitored closely for any adverse effects.
Missed Dose
Since this medicine is usually administered by a qualified healthcare professional in the clinical/hospital setting, the likelihood of a missed dose is very low.
Overdose
Since this medicine is administered in the hospital or clinical setting by a qualified healthcare professional, the likelihood of an overdose is very low. However, emergency medical treatment will be initiated by the doctor if an overdose is suspected.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Enoxaparin
Escitalopram
NSAIDs
ACE inhibitors
Clopidogrel
Apixaban
Warfarin
Abciximab
Disease interactions
Bleeding disorders
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with internal active bleed, who underwent surgery or trauma, genetic bleeding disorders, neoplasms, or any other cerebrovascular accident due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition. You may require a dose adjustment and more frequent clinical monitoring to safely use this medicine. Replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
This medicine is usually to administered under the supervision of a doctor in a clinical setup with regular monitoring of blood clotting time and other related parameters. It should not be injected into the muscles. Your doctor may ask you to undergo certain tests to determine the safety of use of this medicine.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Alteplase is an enzyme which dissolves blood clots and helps in free blood flow.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Thrombolytics
Schedule
Schedule H
[Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2018 [cited 4 December 2018]. Available from:
[Internet]. Medicines.org.uk. 2018 [cited 4 December 2018]. Available from:
Alteplase - DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2018 [cited 4 December 2018]. Available from:
[Internet]. Ebs.tga.gov.au. 2018 [cited 4 December 2018]. Available from:
[Internet]. 2019 [cited 28 January 2019]. Available from:
Information on this page was last updated on 31 Jan 2019
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.