Bivalirudin (Intravenous)

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 8, 2022.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Angiomax

Available Dosage Forms:

• Solution
• Powder for Solution

Therapeutic Class: Anticoagulant

Pharmacologic Class: Thrombin Inhibitor, Direct

Chemical Class: Hirudin Related

Uses for bivalirudin

Bivalirudin is used together with aspirin to decrease the clotting ability of the blood and to help prevent harmful clots from forming in the blood vessels. It is used in patients who are having certain heart and blood vessel procedures, such as coronary angioplasty.

Bivalirudin is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before using bivalirudin

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For bivalirudin, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to bivalirudin or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of bivalirudin in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of bivalirudin in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have bleeding problems than younger adults, which may require caution in patients receiving bivalirudin.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving bivalirudin, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using bivalirudin with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Defibrotide

Using bivalirudin with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Abciximab
• Aceclofenac
• Acemetacin
• Acenocoumarol
• Alipogene Tiparvovec
• Alteplase, Recombinant
• Amtolmetin Guacil
• Anagrelide
• Anistreplase
• Apixaban
• Argatroban
• Aspirin
• Bemiparin
• Betrixaban
• Bromfenac