Abciximab is used together with other medicines (aspirin and heparin) to prevent complications in patients undergoing angioplasty, a non-surgical procedure used to treat the narrowed arteries of the heart.
This medicine may also be used to reduce the risk of heart attacks in patients with unstable chest pains, not responding to the current recommended treatment and have been scheduled for angioplasty.
Abciximab injection is to be given intravenously (into the vein). It is delivered directly into the bloodstream via the blood vessel.
Your doctor or nurse will administer the injection for you.
Alert your doctor if you have the following:
- current or recent internal bleeding (blood loss inside the body)
- history of stroke
- blood clotting disorders
- thrombocytopenia
- major surgery or trauma
- brain tumor
- abnormal connection between arteries and veins
- severe uncontrolled high blood pressure
- inflammation of the blood vessels
as Abciximab may not be suitable for you.
Do not use Abciximab with dextran, a plasma volume expander used in shock.
Inform your doctor if you have kidney disease or if you have low body weight.
Let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Abciximab may cause any of the following: headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, back pain, irregular heartbeat, pain at the injection sites, swelling of the ankles, feet and fingers.
This medicine may cause your platelet levels to drop. Platelets help your blood to clot when there is a cut in the skin. A fall in the level of your platelets may put you at risk of bleeding more than usual. Do not take part in activities where you may fall or get injured, such as contact sports. Alert your doctor if you get any unusual bruising (large bruises or several bruises, especially if the bruises appeared on their own) or bleeding that takes a long time to stop (for example, too much bleeding when you floss or brush your teeth).
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Do not use Abciximab with dextran, a plasma volume expander used in shock.
Inform your doctor if you are taking any of these medicines:
- medicines used to eliminate or reduce the risk of blood clots e.g. warfarin, clopidogrel
- herbal supplements e.g. alfalfa, anise, bilberry
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Abciximab.
Always inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics, such as traditional Chinese medicine supplements and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
This medicine must be stored in a refrigerator. Do not freeze.
Medicine must not be used past the expiry date.
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