Questions and answers

What drug class is argatroban?

What drug class is argatroban?

Argatroban belongs to a class of drugs called Anticoagulants, Cardiovascular; Anticoagulants, Hematologic; Thrombin Inhibitors.

What drugs are direct thrombin inhibitors?

Currently, four parenteral direct inhibitors of thrombin activity are FDA-approved in North America: lepirudin, desirudin, bivalirudin and argatroban. Of the new oral DTIs, dabigatran etexilate is the most studied and promising of these agents.

When do you use direct thrombin inhibitors?

Direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs) are a class of anticoagulants that act by directly inhibiting thrombin to delay clotting and are typically used during HIT and in acute coronary syndrome (see Table 1).

What is the antidote for argatroban?

Like other direct thrombin inhibitors, there is no antidote for argatroban. Argatroban is monitored using the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT).

How do you give argatroban?

Initial Dosage: Initiate an infusion of Argatroban Injection at 25 mcg/kg/min and administer a bolus of 350 mcg/kg via a large bore intravenous line over 3 to 5 minutes (see Table 2). Check an activated clotting time (ACT) 5 to 10 minutes after the bolus dose is completed.

Can you reverse argatroban?

There is no known reversal agent for argatroban. The package insert recommends “symptomatic and supportive therapy.” With FFP, the coagulation parameters returned to the baseline level of anticoagulation in 5 hours. However, the PTT rose 12 hours after the overdose, requiring additional FFP.

Is Argatroban reversible?

Argatroban is a reversible DIT. It is a synthetic peptide derived from arginine. Argatroban is licensed by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of HIT in children in the United States. Patients are treated with a continuous infusion.

Is aspirin a thrombin inhibitor?

Aspirin may reduce thrombin formation and subsequently affect fibrin production. It may also affect acetylate fibrinogen, resulting in increased clot permeability and lysis, according to the researchers.

Is bivalirudin reversible?

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.

Can argatroban be reversed?