Abciximab (Systemic)

Brand Names : ReoPro, c7E3 Fab

Before Using This Medicine

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

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to abciximab or murine (mouse) proteins. If you have had abciximab before, you may have developed an allergy to it. Tell your doctor if you have ever had abciximab. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any other substances, such as [foods, preservatives, or dyes].

Pregnancy - Studies on effects in pregnancy have not been done in either humans or animals. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether this medicine passes into breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are using this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of abciximab in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults - Bleeding problems may be especially likely to occur in elderly patients, who are usually more sensitive than younger adults tot the effects of abciximab. It is important that you discuss the use of this medicine with your doctor.

Other 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 taking abciximab, it is especially important that your doctor and pharmacist know if you are taking any of the following:

• Aspirin or
• Anticoagulants (blood thinners such as warfarin [Coumadin]) or
• Cefamandole (e.g., Mandol) or
• Cefoperazone (e.g., Cefobid) or
• Cefotetan (e.g., Cefotan) or
• Clot-dissolving drugs (alteplase [e.g., Activase], streptokinase [e.g., Streptase], urokinase [e.g., Abbokinase]), or
• Dextran, or
• Dipyridamole (e.g., Persantine, Aggrenox) or
• Heparin, or
• Inflammation or pain medicine, except narcotics, or
• Medicines that prevent platelets from sticking together (clopidogrel [e.g., Plavix], ticlopidine [e.g., Ticlid]) - Using any of these medicines together with abciximab may increase the risk of bleeding.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of abciximab. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Aneurysm (swelling in a blood vessel) especially in the head or
• Blood disease or a history of unusual bleeding or
• Brain problems which may include bleeding, disease, injury or tumor or
• If you weigh less than 150 pounds or
• If you are over 65 years of age or
• Injury to any part of the body or
• Liver disease or
• Stroke - The risk of bleeding may be increased

Also, tell your doctor if you have received abciximab or heparin before and had a reaction to either of them called thrombocytopenia (a low platelet count in the blood), or if new blood clots formed while you were receiving the medicine.

In addition, tell your doctor if you have recently had any bleeding from the stomach, previously had a stroke, recently fallen or suffered a blow to the body or head, or had major medical or dental surgery . These events may increase the risk of serious bleeding when you are taking abciximab.