Drotrecogin Alfa (Activated), Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antithrombotic

Generic and brand names: drotrecogin alfa, (activated), injection; Xigris

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by IV infusion (slow drip through a needle into a large vein) to treat sepsis, a life-threatening illness caused by severe blood infection. It may be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• a brain tumor or aneurysm (weak bulging spot on the wall of a brain artery)
• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• a brain tumor
• an organ transplant
• bleeding or blood-clotting problems
• human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• liver disease
• stomach disease or ulcers

Tell your provider if you have recently had:

• a stroke
• surgery or a severe injury
• treatment with a medicine that reduces the chance of blood clots forming such as aspirin or warfarin (Coumadin)

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

You will be given the infusion by your healthcare provider while you are in the hospital. You will be closely watched to be sure that you do not bleed too much or develop any serious side effects. You will have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you.

What should I watch out for?

Bleeding is the most common side effect. Your healthcare provider will check for bleeding. If you notice any bleeding, tell your healthcare provider.

What are the side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Your healthcare provider will watch you closely to make sure the medicine is working and is not causing unwanted side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Unusual bleeding or bruising, blood in your urine, black or tarry stools, severe headache.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these medicines together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• medicines that affect coagulation (clotting) of blood, such as warfarin (Coumadin), clopidogrel (Plavix), cilostazol (Pletal), ticlopidine (Ticlid), dipyridamole (Persantine), enoxaparin (Lovenox), dalteparin (Fragmin), heparin, and aspirin
• natural remedies such as alfalfa, anise, bromelain, cat claw, chamomile, coleus, evening primrose, fenugreek, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, green tea, ginseng, horse chestnut, sweet clover, red clover, turmeric, and willow
• NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Motrin IB, Advil, Nuprin), naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve, Naprelan), ketoprofen (Orudis, Orudis KT, Oruvail), nabumetone (Relafen), indomethacin (Indocin), ketorolac (Toradol), sulindac (Clinoril), piroxicam (Feldene), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), and oxaprozin (Daypro)

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, supplements, natural remedies, vitamins, nonprescription) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.

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