Bivalirudin APOTEX


Bivalirudin trifluoroacetate
Consumer Medicine Information

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet answers some common questions about bivalirudin. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

What this medicine is used for

Bivalirudin helps prevent unwanted blood clotting during an angioplasty. Bivalirudin belongs to a group of medicines called anticoagulants.

How it works

An angioplasty is a medical procedure in which blocked blood vessels in the heart are unblocked. Angioplasty is also called percutaneous coronary intervention, or PCI. Angioplasty improves blood flow in the heart, helping heart problems such as angina.
Bivalirudin prevents blood clotting during an angioplasty by stopping thrombin from working. Thrombin is a protein that starts blood clotting.
Your doctor may have prescribed this medicine for another reason.
This medicine is not addictive.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.

Before you are given this medicine

When you must not be given it

Do not receive this medicine if you have an allergy to:
any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
shortness of breath
tightness of the chest, wheezing or difficulty breathing
rash, itching or hives on the skin
Do not receive this medicine if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:
active bleeding or increased risk of bleeding because of haemostasis disorders or irreversible coagulation disorders
severe uncontrolled hypertension
subacute bacterial endocarditis
severe kidney problems (such as kidney failure) or are on dialysis
Do not receive this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If it has expired or is damaged, the pharmacist will arrange for its disposal.

Before you are given it

tend to bleed or bruise easily
kidney or liver disease
uncontrolled high blood pressure
other heart condition.
Tell your doctor if you are already taking any medications such as blood-thinners/anticoagulants or medicines to prevent blood clots.
Your risk of bleeding may increase. Your doctor will discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or if you have recently given birth.
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
It is not known whether this medicine passes into human breast milk.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, health food shop or supermarket.
Some medicines may interact with bivalirudin. These include:
other medicines use to stop blood clotting (e.g. warfarin, heparin)
medicines which affect platelets (e.g. aspirin, ticlopidine, clopidogrel)
St John's Wort, ginseng and ginkgo biloba
These medicines may be affected by bivalirudin or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines.

How this medicine is given

Your doctor will give you bivalirudin into a vein as an injection or as a continuous infusion.
During angioplasty, bivalirudin should be given with aspirin.

How much is given

Your doctor will decide how much of this medicine you will receive.
If you have kidney disease your doctor may change the usual dose.

If you receive too much (overdose)

As bivalirudin is given to you in a hospital under the supervision of your doctor or medical staff, it is very unlikely that you will receive an overdose. You will be closely monitored while in the hospital so that any unwanted side effects can be treated. However, tell your doctor immediately if you experience side effects.

While you are using this medicine

Things you must do

If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are receiving this medicine.
Bivalirudin may affect other medicines used during surgery.
It may interfere with the results of some tests.
If you are taking warfarin, your doctor may do some blood clotting tests after your treatment with bivalirudin, as it may affect your INR levels.

Things you must not do


Side effects

Tell your doctor and nurse as soon as possible if you do not feel well after you have been given bivalirudin.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following:
nausea, vomiting
trouble falling asleep
high or low blood pressure
pain at injection site, chest or back
slow or fast heart beat
skin rash
anaemia, decreased platelets, blood vessel disorders.
If any of the following happen, tell your doctor and nurse immediately:
bleeding from other parts of the body, such as at needle puncture wounds, in the urine, or bruising where the intravenous catheter was inserted
shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat or other parts of the body; tightness of the chest; rash, itching or hives on the skin (signs of an allergic reaction)
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients.

Storage and disposal


This medicine will be stored in the pharmacy or on the ward.
After bivalirudin powder has been dissolved, use the solution as soon as possible.


Bivalirudin is used for one dose in one patient only. Any remaining contents should be discarded.

Product description

What it looks like

White to off-white lyophilisate powder for reconstitution for IV injection. Supplied in a clear glass vial. AUST R 241714.


Each vial contains 250 mg of bivalirudin (as trifluoroacetate) as the active ingredient.
It also contains the following:
sodium hydroxide


Apotex Pty. Ltd.
16 Giffnock Avenue
Macquarie Park NSW 2113
APO and APOTEX are registered trade marks of Apotex Inc.
This leaflet was prepared in August 2019.