Bivalirudin (4 brand names, 2 dosage forms, 2 routes)
Available dosage forms: SOLUTION, INJECTABLE.
Routes of administration: INTRAVENOUS, INJECTION.
Brand Names
- ANGIOMAX
- ANGIOMAX RTU
- BIVALIRUDIN
- BIVALIRUDIN IN 0.9% SODIUM CHLORIDE
Indications and Usage
Bivalirudin Injection is indicated for use as an anticoagulant in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), including patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis syndrome.
Contraindications
Bivalirudin Injection is contraindicated in patients with: Significant active bleeding; Hypersensitivity to Bivalirudin Injection or its components [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)].
Drug Interactions
In clinical trials in patients undergoing PCI, co-administration of bivalirudin with heparin, warfarin, thrombolytics, or GPIs was associated with increased risks of major bleeding events compared to patients not receiving these concomitant medications.
Mechanism of Action
Bivalirudin directly inhibits thrombin by specifically binding both to the catalytic site and to the anion-binding exosite of circulating and clot-bound thrombin. Thrombin is a serine proteinase that plays a central role in the thrombotic process, acting to cleave fibrinogen into fibrin monomers and to activate Factor XIII to Factor XIIIa, allowing fibrin to develop a covalently cross-linked framework which stabilizes the thrombus; thrombin also activates Factors V and VIII, promoting further thrombin generation, and activates platelets, stimulating aggregation and granule release. The binding of bivalirudin to thrombin is reversible as thrombin slowly cleaves the bivalirudin-Arg3-Pro4 bond, resulting in recovery of thrombin active site functions.
Overdosage
Cases of overdose of up to 10 times the recommended bolus or continuous infusion dose of bivalirudin have been reported in clinical trials and in postmarketing reports. A number of the reported overdoses were due to failure to adjust the infusion dose of bivalirudin in persons with renal dysfunction including persons on hemodialysis [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)]. Bleeding, as well as deaths due to hemorrhage, have been observed in some reports of overdose. In cases of suspected overdosage, discontinue bivalirudin immediately and monitor the patient closely for signs of bleeding. There is no known antidote to bivalirudin. Bivalirudin is hemodialyzable [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].