Cangrelor

Cangrelor is a prescription medication used to reduce the risk of myocardial infarction, repeat coronary revascularization, and stent thrombosis in patients who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention. It should be used only in patients who have not been treated with other platelet inhibitors or glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors.

Cangrelor belongs to a group of drugs called P2Y12 platelet inhibitors. These work by blocking platelet activation and aggregation, which decreases the risk of formation of dangerous blood clots.

This medication is available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a healthcare professional.

The most common side effect of cangrelor is bleeding.

Cangrelor is a prescription medication used to reduce the risk of myocardial infarction, repeat coronary revascularization, and stent thrombosis in patients who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention. It should be used only in patients who have not been treated with a P2Y12 platelet inhibitor, such as clopidogrel (Plavix), prasugrel (Effient), and ticagrelor (Brilinta), and are not being given a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor, such as abciximab (ReoPro), eptifibatide(Integrilin), and tirofiban(Aggrastat).

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Cangrelor may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• Kengreal

Serious side effects have been reported with cangrelor. See the “cangrelor Precautions” section.

The most common side effect of cangrelor is bleeding.

This is not a complete list of cangrelor side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• Other medications that inhibit platelet activation and aggregation, including clopidogrel (Plavix) and prasugrel (Effient)

This is not a complete list of cangrelor drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with cangrelor including the following:

• Bleeding. Medicines that inhibit platelet function increase the risk for bleeding and may cause intracranial hemorrhage, overt bleeding, and decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit.
• Hypersensitivity. Tell your health care provider right away if you experience any of the following symptoms of a hypersensitivity reaction:
  • difficulty breathing or a harsh, vibrating noise when you breath
  • swelling of the face, tongue, or throat
• Decreased renal function. Cangrelor should be used cautiously in patients with existing kidney problems.

Dyspnea (shortness of breath). Cangrelor can cause shortness of breath.

Do not take cangrelor if you:

• are allergic to cangrelor or to any of its ingredients
• have significant active bleeding

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of cangrelor, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking cangrelor, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to cangrelor or to any of its ingredients
• have liver problems
• have heart problems
• have kidney problems
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X - are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Cangrelor falls into category C. There are no well-controlled studies that have been done in pregnant women. Cangrelor should be used during pregnancy only if the possible benefit outweighs the possible risk to the unborn baby.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if cangrelor crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using cangrelor.

Take cangrelor exactly as prescribed.

This medication is available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a healthcare professional. It is administered immediately before and for at least 2 hours or the duration of the procedure, whichever is longer.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• your weight

The recommended dose of cangrelor for the treatment is a 30 mcg/kg IV bolus followed immediately by a 4 mcg/kg/min IV infusion. Initiate the bolus infusion prior to PCI. The maintenance infusion should ordinarily be continued for at least 2 hours or for the duration of PCI, whichever is longer.

If you take too much cangrelor, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

If cangrelor is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

• Store cangrelor at room temperature.
• Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.