What special precautions should I follow?
Before taking Abciximab:
Be sure to inform your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to abciximab or murine (mouse) proteins. If you have had abciximab before, you may have developed an allergy to it. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Studies on effects in pregnancy have not been done in either humans or animals. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.
Furthermore, it is not known whether this medicine passes into breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are using this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.
Additionally, studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of abciximab in children with use in other age groups.
Bleeding problems may be especially likely to occur in elderly patients, who are usually more sensitive than younger adults tot the effects of abciximab. It is important that you discuss the use of this medicine with your doctor.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking abciximab, it is especially important that your doctor and pharmacist know if you are taking any of the following: aspirin or anticoagulants (blood thinners such as warfarin [Coumadin®]), cefamandole (Mandol®), cefoperazone (Cefobid®), cefotetan (Cefotan®), clot-dissolving drugs (alteplase [Activase®], streptokinase [Streptase®], or urokinase [Abbokinase®]), dextran, dipyridamole (Persantine®, Aggrenox®) heparin, inflammation or pain medicine, except narcotics, or medicines that prevent platelets from sticking together (clopidogrel [Plavix®], ticlopidine [Ticlid®]). Using any of these medicines together with abciximab may increase the risk of bleeding.
Why is this medication prescribed?
Dosage and using this medicine
What should I do if I forget a dose?
What side effects can this medication cause?