Eptifibatide injection

What is this medicine?

EPTIFIBATIDE (ep TIF i ba tide) prevents your blood from clotting during episodes of chest pain or a heart attack. This medicine may also be used to prevent blood clots during a procedure to treat a blocked heart artery.

How should I use this medicine?

This medicine is for injection into a vein. It is usually given by a health care professional in a hospital or clinic setting.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue

• back pain

• breathing problems

• feeling faint or lightheaded, falls

• signs and symptoms of bleeding such as bloody or black, tarry stools; red or dark-brown urine; spitting up blood or brown material that looks like coffee grounds; red spots on the skin; unusual bruising or bleeding from the eye, gums, or nose

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• pain at site where injected

What may interact with this medicine?

• aspirin and aspirin-like medicines

• clopidogrel

• dipyridamole

• herbal products containing feverfew, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, or horse chestnut

• medicines that break up blood clots like alteplase, reteplase, streptokinase, and urokinase

• medicines that treat or prevent blood clots like warfarin, enoxaparin, and dalteparin

• NSAIDs, medicines for pain and inflammation, like ibuprofen or naproxen

• ticlopidine

What if I miss a dose?

This does not apply.

Where should I keep my medicine?

This drug is given in a hospital or clinic and will not be stored at home.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• bleeding such as vomiting blood, black or red stools, or pink or red urine within the past 30 days

• high blood pressure

• injury or surgery within the past 6 weeks

• kidney disease

• previous stroke

• took a drug to prevent blood clots like warfarin in the past week

• an unusual or allergic reaction to eptifibatide, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast-feeding

What should I watch for while using this medicine?

Your condition will be monitored carefully while you are receiving this medicine.

Notify your doctor or health care professional and seek emergency treatment if you develop breathing problems; changes in vision; chest pain; severe, sudden headache; pain, swelling, warmth in the leg; trouble speaking; sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg. These can be signs that your condition has gotten worse.