(a mee noe ka PROE ik AS id)
To enhance hemostasis when fibrinolysis contributes to bleeding (causes may include cardiac surgery, hematologic disorders, neoplastic disorders, abruptio placentae, hepatic cirrhosis, and urinary fibrinolysis)
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (without heparin); evidence of an active intravascular clotting process
Acute bleeding: Oral, IV: Loading dose: 4-5 g during the first hour, followed by 1 g/hour for 8 hours (or 1.25 g/hour using oral solution) or until bleeding controlled (maximum daily dose: 30 g)
Control of bleeding with severe thrombocytopenia (off-label use) (Bartholomew, 1989; Gardner, 1980):
Initial: IV: 100 mg/kg (maximum dose: 5 g) over 30-60 minutes
Maintenance: Oral, IV: 1-4 g every 4-8 hours or 1 g/hour (maximum daily dose: 24 g)
Control of oral bleeding in congenital and acquired coagulation disorder (off-label use): Oral: 50-60 mg/kg every 4 hours (Mannucci, 1998)
Prevention of dental procedure bleeding in patients on oral anticoagulant therapy (off-label use): Oral rinse: Hold 4 g/10 mL in mouth for 2 minutes then spit out. Repeat every 6 hours for 2 days after procedure (Souto, 1996). Concentration and frequency may vary by institution and product availability.
Prevention of perioperative bleeding associated with cardiac surgery (off-label use): IV: Loading dose of 75-150 mg/kg (typically 5-10 g), followed by 10-15 mg/kg/hour (typically 1 g/hour); may add 2-2.5 g/L of cardiopulmonary bypass circuit priming solution (Gravlee, 2008)
or
Loading dose of 10 g followed by 2 g/hour during surgery; no medication added to the bypass circuit (Fergusson, 2008)
or
10 g over 20-30 minutes prior to skin incision, followed by 10 g after heparin administration then 10 g at discontinuation of cardiopulmonary bypass (Vander Salm, 1996)
Traumatic hyphema (off-label use): Oral: 50 mg/kg/dose every 4 hours (maximum daily dose: 30 g) for 5 days (Brandt, 2001; Crouch, 1999)
Refer to adult dosing.
Prevention of perioperative bleeding associated with cardiac surgery (off-label use): IV: 100 mg/kg given over 20-30 minutes after induction and prior to incision, 100 mg/kg during cardiopulmonary bypass, and 100 mg/kg after heparin reversal over 3 hours (Chauhan, 2004)
Prevention of bleeding associated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) (off-label use): IV: 100 mg/kg prior to or immediately after cannulation, followed by 25-30 mg/kg/hour for up to 72 hours (Downard, 2003; Horwitz, 1998; Wilson, 1993)
Prevention of perioperative bleeding associated with spinal surgery (eg, idiopathic scoliosis) (off-label use): Children and Adolescents: IV: 100 mg/kg given over 15-20 minutes after induction, followed by 10 mg/kg/hour for the remainder of the surgery; discontinue at time of wound closure (Florentino-Pineda, 2001; Florentino-Pineda, 2004)
Traumatic hyphema (off-label use): Oral: Refer to adult dosing.
May accumulate in patients with decreased renal function. When used during cardiopulmonary bypass in anephric patients, a normal or slightly reduced loading dose and a continuous infusion rate of 5 mg/kg/hour has been recommended (Gravlee, 2008).
No dosage adjustment provided in the manufacturer 's labeling.
Dilute IV solution in D5W, 0.9% sodium chloride, or Ringers injection.
Rapid IV injection (IVP) of undiluted solution is not recommended due to possible hypotension, bradycardia, and arrhythmia.
IV: May administer loading dose over 15-60 minutes depending on indication; a continuous infusion may be necessary.
Store intact vials, tablets, and syrup at 15 � �C to 30 � �C (59 � �F to 86 � �F). Do not freeze injection or syrup. Solutions diluted for IV use in D5W or NS to concentrations of 10-100 mg/mL are stable at 4 � �C (39 � �F) and 23 � �C (73 � �F) for 7 days (Zhang, 1997).
Excipient information presented when available (limited, particularly for generics); consult specific product labeling. [DSC] = Discontinued product
Solution, Intravenous:
Generic: 250 mg/mL (20 mL)
Solution, Oral:
Amicar: 25% (236.5 mL) [contains edetate disodium, methylparaben, propylparaben, saccharin sodium; raspberry flavor]
Syrup, Oral:
Amicar: 25% (473 mL [DSC]) [raspberry flavor]
Generic: 25% (237 mL [DSC], 473 mL [DSC])
Tablet, Oral:
Amicar: 500 mg, 1000 mg [scored]
Generic: 500 mg [DSC], 1000 mg [DSC]
Stable in D5W, NS, Ringer 's injection
Anti-inhibitor Coagulant Complex (Human): Antifibrinolytic Agents may enhance the thrombogenic effect of Anti-inhibitor Coagulant Complex (Human). Avoid combination
Factor IX Complex (Human) [(Factors II, IX, X)]: Aminocaproic Acid may enhance the adverse/toxic effect of Factor IX Complex (Human) [(Factors II, IX, X)]. Specifically, use of this combination may increase the risk of thrombosis. Avoid combination
Fibrinogen Concentrate (Human): Antifibrinolytic Agents may enhance the adverse/toxic effect of Fibrinogen Concentrate (Human). Specifically, the risk for thrombosis may be increased. Fibrinogen Concentrate (Human) may enhance the adverse/toxic effect of Antifibrinolytic Agents. Specifically, the risk for thrombosis may be increased. Monitor therapy
Tretinoin (Systemic): May enhance the thrombogenic effect of Antifibrinolytic Agents. Monitor therapy
Fibrinogen, fibrin split products, creatine phosphokinase (with long-term therapy), BUN, creatinine
Frequency not defined.
Cardiovascular: Arrhythmia, bradycardia, edema, hypotension, intracranial hypertension, peripheral ischemia, syncope, thrombosis
Central nervous system: Confusion, delirium, dizziness, fatigue, hallucinations, headache, malaise, seizure, stroke
Dermatologic: Rash, pruritus
Gastrointestinal: Abdominal pain, anorexia, cramps, diarrhea, GI irritation, nausea, vomiting
Genitourinary: Dry ejaculation
Hematologic: Agranulocytosis, bleeding time increased, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia
Local: Injection site necrosis, injection site pain, injection site reactions
Neuromuscular & skeletal: CPK increased, myalgia, myositis, myopathy, rhabdomyolysis (rare), weakness
Ophthalmic: Vision decreased, watery eyes
Otic: Tinnitus
Renal: BUN increased, intrarenal obstruction (glomerular capillary thrombosis), myoglobinuria (rare), renal failure (rare)
Respiratory: Dyspnea, nasal congestion, pulmonary embolism
Miscellaneous: Allergic reaction, anaphylactoid reaction, anaphylaxis
Postmarketing and/or case reports: Hepatic lesion, hyperkalemia, myocardial lesion
Concerns related to adverse effects:
- Intrarenal obstruction: May occur secondary to glomerular capillary thrombosis or clots in the renal pelvis and ureters; do not use in hematuria of upper urinary tract origin unless possible benefits outweigh risks.
- Skeletal muscle weakness: Ranging from mild myalgias and fatigue to severe myopathy with rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure has been reported with prolonged use. Monitor CPK; discontinue treatment with a rise in CPK.
Disease-related concerns:
- Renal impairment: Use with caution in patients with renal impairment; may accumulate.
Concurrent drug therapy issues:
- Blood products: Do not administer with factor IX complex concentrates or anti-inhibitor coagulant complexes; may increase risk for thrombosis.
Dosage form specific issues:
- Benzyl alcohol and derivatives: Some dosage forms may contain benzyl alcohol; large amounts of benzyl alcohol ( ≥99 mg/kg/day) have been associated with a potentially fatal toxicity ( "gasping syndrome " �) in neonates; the "gasping syndrome " � consists of metabolic acidosis, respiratory distress, gasping respirations, CNS dysfunction (including convulsions, intracranial hemorrhage), hypotension and cardiovascular collapse (AAP [Inactive" 1997]; CDC, 1982); some data suggests that benzoate displaces bilirubin from protein binding sites (Ahlfors, 2001); avoid or use dosage forms containing benzyl alcohol with caution in neonates. See manufacturer 's labeling.
Other warnings/precautions:
- Appropriate use: Do not administer without a definite diagnosis of laboratory findings indicative of hyperfibrinolysis. Inhibition of fibrinolysis may promote clotting or thrombosis; more likely due to the presence of DIC.
- IV administration: Avoid rapid IV administration; may induce hypotension, bradycardia, or arrhythmia; rapid injection of undiluted solution is not recommended.
C
Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted.
Binds competitively to plasminogen; blocking the binding of plasminogen to fibrin and the subsequent conversion to plasmin, resulting in inhibition of fibrin degradation (fibrinolysis).
Widely through intravascular and extravascular compartments; Vd: Oral: 23 L, IV: 30 L
Minimally hepatic
Urine (65% as unchanged drug, 11% as metabolite)
~1 to 72 hours
Oral: 1.2 � � 0.45 hours
1 to 2 hours
- Discuss specific use of drug and side effects with patient as it relates to treatment. (HCAHPS: During this hospital stay, were you given any medicine that you had not taken before? Before giving you any new medicine, how often did hospital staff tell you what the medicine was for? How often did hospital staff describe possible side effects in a way you could understand?)
- Patient may experience nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, loss of strength and energy, or rhinitis. Have patient report immediately to prescriber signs of severe cerebrovascular disease (change in strength on one side is greater than the other, trouble speaking or thinking, change in balance, or change in eyesight), signs of DVT (edema, warmth, numbness, change in color, or pain in the extremities), arrhythmia, bradycardia, bruising, bleeding, urinary retention, change in amount of urine passed, muscle pain, muscle weakness, edema, seizures, passing out, severe dizziness, hallucinations, confusion, angina, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, chills, pharyngitis, severe headache, vision changes, tinnitus, or severe injection site pain or irritation (HCAHPS).
- Educate patient about signs of a significant reaction (eg, wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat). Note: This is not a comprehensive list of all side effects. Patient should consult prescriber for additional questions.
Intended Use and Disclaimer: Should not be printed and given to patients. This information is intended to serve as a concise initial reference for health care professionals to use when discussing medications with a patient. You must ultimately rely on your own discretion, experience and judgment in diagnosing, treating, and advising patients.