Urokinase, Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: thrombolytic

Generic and brand names: urokinase, injection; Abbokinase

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is known as a thrombolytic agent. This medicine is given by injection (a shot) or IV infusion (slow drip into a large vein) to treat heart attacks and other problems by dissolving blood clots.

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

Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• a brain tumor
• bleeding or blood clotting problems
• high blood pressure
• kidney or liver disease.

Tell your provider if you have recently had a stroke, surgery, or if you have recently fallen or been injured. Also tell your health care provider if you take blood thinner medicines such as warfarin (Coumadin) or aspirin.

Females of childbearing age: Talk with 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?

This medicine works best when given at the first symptoms of a heart attack. The injections are usually given in a hospital.

What should I watch out for?

Beginning this treatment as soon as possible after you feel symptoms of a heart attack improves your chances of recovery.

Bleeding is the most common side effect. Your healthcare provider will check for bleeding and will try to avoid puncturing your skin whenever possible. If you notice any bleeding, tell your health care provider.

What are the possible 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.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Bleeding anywhere on your body, bloody or black tarry bowel movements, blood in the urine, irregular heartbeat, fever, swelling, back pain.

Other: Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, flushing, chills.

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 products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• aspirin or other salicylates
• antiplatelet medicines such as abciximab (ReoPro), eptifibatide (Integrilin), tirofiban (Aggrastat), clopidogrel (Plavix), dipyridamole (Persantine), and ticlopidine (Ticlid), and cilostazol (Pletal)
• herbs and supplements such as fish oil, angelica, anise, arnica, capsicum, celery, chamomile, fenugreek, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, Panax ginseng, papain, red clover, and turmeric
• medicines that prevent or treat blood clots such as warfarin (Coumadin), heparin, enoxaparin (Lovenox), dalteparin (Fragmin), tinzaparin (Innohep), and fondaparinux (Arixtra)
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (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), oxaprozin (Daypro), and celecoxib (Celebrex)

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

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.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.