Where is Abciximab used?
Abciximab is in the class of medications called antithrombotics used to lessen the chance of heart attack in people who need percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). PCI is a procedure to open the blocked arteries of the heart. A heart attack may happen when a blood vessel in the heart is blocked by a blood clot. During PCI, blood clots can sometimes form. Abciximab helps to prevent blood clots. It also inhibits the aggregation of blood-clotting cells or called platelets in the blood.
This medication can also be used in patients who have unstable angina or severe chest pain with heart disease. This medication has already been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
How does Abciximab work?
Abciximab is a type of blood thinner that works by preventing the formulation of blood clots in the heart. It may occur during procedures to open blocked arteries in the heart. It is also known as ischaemic cardiac complications. Example of it is balloon angioplasty, stent placement, and atherectomy. This medicine prevents platelets in the blood from penetrating one another. As soon as platelets stick to one another, they might form blood clots that may reason to a heart attack. It may as well cause the opened blood vessels in the heart to close back up.
How is Abciximab used?
The dosage of Abciximab will depend on your medical condition, your response to the medicine, age, and weight.
- For patients with unstable angina, the recommended dose is 0.25mg for every kg of the body weight. It is followed by an infusion of 10mcg/min starting 18-24hrs before the scheduled intervention. It is finishing an hour after the completion of the intervention.
- For patients undergoing PCI, the dose is 0.25mg for every kg of the bodyweight to be followed by a 0.125mcg/kg/min nonstop intravenous infusion.
Abciximab is injected directly into the vein. Before giving you this medication, your doctor will give you first other medicines like heparin and aspirin. Do not inject yourself. Let your doctor or nurse do this. It is important to let your doctor know if you have any allergies or experience any signs of an allergic reaction while using this drug.
What are the possible side effects of Abciximab?
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Back pain
- Headache
- Pain and bleeding at the injection site
- Feeling faint due to low blood pressure
- Hives or itching on the skin
- Swelling of the lips and face or other parts of the body
- Chest pain
- Irregular heartbeat
What are the precautions in taking Abciximab?
- If your dose is interrupted or stopped, call the doctor right away to start a new dosing schedule.
- Certain medical tests must be performed regularly to monitor your progress or check for any side effects.
- Your doctor may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and might be monitoring you for them. Do stop or change the dose of any medicine before checking with your doctor first. This medicine should not be used with dextran because a very serious interaction might occur.
