Rapilysin

What is it?

A fibrinolytic available as a powder in vials with WFI for bolus injection containing 10 units of reteplase.

Medical Uses

Acute heart attack.

Dosage

Adults, two 10 unit injections half an hour apart starting within 12 hours of heart attack. Each given by slow intravenous injection over 2 minutes. Manufacturer's literature should Also, be consulted.

Special Care

Pregnancy, elderly, bleeding in gastrointestinal or genito-urinary tract, heart and circulatory disease, occluded arteriovenous cannula, systolic blood pressure above 160mmHg, septic thronbophlebitis. There is increased risk of bleeding and left heart thrombus.

Avoid Use

Children, high blood pressure that is not controlled, within 3 months of serious trauma or surgery, or severe bleeding, aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation, active stomach ulcer, pericarditis, severe kidney or liver disease, haemorrhage within eye, brain tumour, acute pancreatitis, within 10 days of external massage of the heart, inherited tendency for bleeding, bacterial endocarditis.

Possible Drug and Food Interactions

Drugs affecting blood platelets, anticoagulants, antagonists to vitamin K, low molecular weight heparins, heparin. Retaplase and heparin must not be given through same intravenous line.

Known Side Effects

Heart failure, cardiac arrest, haemorrhage, intracranial bleeding (bleeding in brain), reinfarction, heart shock, ischaemia, low blood pressure. In rare cases, allergic reactions.