Daily Medication Pearl: Argatroban Injection

Medication Pearl of the Day: Argatroban Injection

Indication: Argatroban is a direct thrombin inhibitor indicated for prophylaxis or treatment of thrombosis in adult patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and as an anticoagulant in adults patients with or at risk for HIT undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Insight:

• Dosing: Argatroban 125 mg in 125 mL aqueous sodium chloride solution (1 mg/mL) is intended for administration to adult patients.
• Dosage forms: Argatroban Injection is supplied as a single-use vial containing 125 mg argatroban in 125 mL aqueous sodium chloride solution.
• Adverse events: In HIT patients, the most common (> 5%) adverse reactions were dyspnea, hypotension, fever, diarrhea, sepsis, and cardiac arrest.
• Mechanism of action: Argatroban is a direct thrombin inhibitor that reversibly binds to the thrombin active site. Argatroban does not require the co-factor antithrombin III for antithrombotic activity. Argatroban exerts its anticoagulant effects by inhibiting thrombin-catalyzed or -induced reactions, including fibrin formation; activation of coagulation factors V, VIII, and XIII; activation of protein C; and platelet aggregation.

Source: Argatroban injection label (fda.gov)