Daily Medication Pearl: Alteplase (Activase)

Alteplase (Activase) is indicated for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke, acute myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, and blocked central venous catheter.

Indication: Alteplase (Activase) is a tissue plasminogen activator indicated for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke, acute myocardial infarction to reduce mortality and incidence of heart failure, pulmonary embolism associated with low blood pressure, and blocked central venous catheter.

Insight:

  • Dosing: The recommended dose is 0.9 mg/kg (not to exceed 90 mg total dose) infused intravenously over 60 minutes with 10% of the total dose administered as an initial bolus over 1 minute.
  • Dosage forms: Lyophilized powder 50 mg and 100 mg with sterile water for injection USP for reconstitution at 1 mg per 1 mL.
  • Adverse events: The most frequently occurring adverse reaction (> 5%) is bleeding.
  • Mechanism of action: Alteplase is a serine protease responsible for fibrin-enhanced conversion of plasminogen to plasmin. It produces limited conversion of plasminogen in the absence of fibrin.
  • Manufacturer: Genentech

Sources:

ACTIVASE (alteplase) for injection (fda.gov)

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