urokinase

	What is the most important information I should know about urokinase?
	What is urokinase?
	What should I discuss with my health care provider before I receive urokinase?
	How is urokinase given?
	What happens if I miss a dose?
	What happens if I overdose?
	What should I avoid while receiving urokinase?
	What are the possible side effects of urokinase?
	What other drugs will affect urokinase?
	Where can I get more information?
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You should not use this medication if you are allergic to urokinase, or if you have internal bleeding, a brain tumor or aneurysm, hemophilia or other bleeding disorder, arterial hypertension, or if you have had a recent stroke, surgery, organ transplant, or medical emergency .

Before you receive urokinase, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease, diabetes, heart problems, if you are pregnant or recently gave birth, a history of stroke or stomach bleeding.

Tell your caregivers at once if you have a serious side effect such as easy bruising or bleeding, blood in your stools, coughing up blood, chest pain, sudden problems with vision or speech, swelling, discoloration of your fingers or toes, severe stomach pain, weak or shallow breathing, fever, chills, or flu symptoms.

Before you receive urokinase, tell your doctor if you are using a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin), aspirin or an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and others, or any medication used to prevent blood clots such as Kabikinase, Plavix, Ticlid, Persantine, Streptase, and others.

Urokinase is a man-made product developed using a protein that occurs naturally in the kidneys. Urokinase is a thrombolytic agent that works by dissolving blood clots.

Urokinase is used to treat blood clots in the lungs.

Urokinase may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to urokinase, or if you have:

• internal bleeding;
• a brain tumor;
• a brain aneurysm (dilated blood vessel);
• a bleeding or blood clotting disorder (such as hemophilia);
• a condition called arterial hypertension;
• if you have had a recent medical emergency requiring CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation);
• if you have had a stroke, brain surgery, or spinal surgery within in the past 2 months.

If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication. Before you receive urokinase, tell your doctor if you have:

• a history of stroke;
• severe liver or kidney disease;
• eye problems caused by diabetes;
• an infection of the lining of your heart (also called bacterial endocarditis);
• a blood clot of your heart;
• a recent history of stomach or intestinal bleeding;
• if you are pregnant or have had a baby within the past 10 days; or
• if you have had surgery or an organ transplant within the past 10 days.

FDA pregnancy category B. Urokinase is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. However, your doctor should know if you are pregnant before you receive this medication.

It is not known whether urokinase passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Urokinase is made from human kidney cells and albumin (part of the blood) and it may contain viruses and other infectious agents that can cause disease. Although donated human blood is screened, tested, and treated to reduce the risk of it containing anything that could cause disease, there is still a small possibility it could transmit disease. Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of using this medication.

Urokinase is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein. You will receive this injection in a clinic or hospital setting.

Urokinase is given slowly, usually over a period of 12 hours, using a continuous infusion pump.

Your breathing, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and other vital signs will be watched closely while you are receiving urokinase.

Since urokinase is given by a healthcare professional in a clinical setting, you are not likely to miss a dose.

Because urokinase is given in a controlled clinical setting, an overdose is not expected to occur.

Avoid taking aspirin or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) to treat a fever shortly after you have received urokinase. These medications can increase your risk of bleeding. Ask your doctor about other methods of treating a fever.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Tell your caregivers at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• easy bruising or bleeding (nosebleeds, bleeding gums, bleeding from a wound, incision, catheter, or needle injection );
• bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
• chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;
• sudden headache or problems with speech, vision, or balance;
• fever, chills, flu symptoms, nausea, vomiting, back pain, or stomach pain;
• drowsiness, confusion, mood changes, increased thirst, loss of appetite;
• swelling, weight gain, feeling short of breath;
• urinating less than usual or not at all;
• red or purple discoloration of fingers or toes;
• weak or shallow breathing, blue-colored lips or fingernails;
• dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure); or
• pancreatitis (severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

The following drugs can interact with urokinase. Tell your doctor if you are using any of these:

• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
• aspirin or an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), and others; or
• medication used to prevent blood clots, such as alteplase (Activase), anistreplase (Eminase), clopidogrel (Plavix), dipyridamole (Persantine), streptokinase (Kabikinase, Streptase), or ticlopidine (Ticlid).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with urokinase. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about urokinase.