Argatroban

Dosing in Patients with Hepatic Impairment Initial Dosage: For adult patients with HIT and moderate or severe hepatic impairment (based on Child-Pugh classification), an initial dose of 0.5 mcg/kg/min is recommended, based on the approximately 4-fold decrease in argatroban clearance relative to those with normal hepatic function.

Monitor the aPTT closely, and adjust the dosage as clinically indicated. Monitoring Therapy: Achievement of steady state aPTT levels may take longer and require more dose adjustments in patients with hepatic impairment compared to patients with normal hepatic function. For patients with hepatic impairment undergoing PCI and who have HIT or are at risk for HIT, carefully titrate argatroban until the desired level of anticoagulation is achieved.

Use of argatroban in PCI patients with clinically significant hepatic disease or AST/ALT levels greater than or equal to 3 times the upper limit of normal should be avoided [ see Warnings and Precautions ].

Preparation for Intravenous Administration Argatroban Injection must be diluted 100-fold prior to infusion. Argatroban Injection should not be mixed with other drugs prior to dilution. Argatroban Injection should be diluted in 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, 5% Dextrose Injection, or Lactated Ringer's Injection to a final concentration of 1 mg/mL.

The contents of each 2.5-mL vial should be diluted 100-fold by mixing with 250 mL of diluent. Use 250 mg (2.5 mL) per 250 mL of diluent or 500 mg (5 mL) per 500 mL of diluent. The constituted solution must be mixed by repeated inversion of the diluent bag for 1 minute. Upon preparation, the solution may show slight but brief haziness due to the formation of microprecipitates that rapidly dissolve upon mixing.

Use of diluent at room temperature is recommended. Colder temperatures can slow down the rate of dissolution of precipitates. The final solution must be clear before use. The pH of the intravenous solution prepared as recommended is 3.2 to 7.5. Solutions prepared as recommended are stable at controlled room temperature, 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F) (see USP) in ambient indoor light for 24 hours; therefore, light-resistant measures such as foil protection for intravenous lines are unnecessary.

Solutions are physically and chemically stable for up to 96 hours when protected from light and stored at controlled room temperature, 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F) (see USP), or at refrigerated conditions, 5°C ± 3°C (41°F ± 5°F). Prepared solutions should not be exposed to direct sunlight. No significant potency losses have been noted following simulated delivery of the solution through intravenous tubing.

Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration whenever solution and container permit.

Dosing in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Interventions Initial Dosage: Initiate an infusion of Argatroban Injection at 25 mcg/kg/min and administer a bolus of 350 mcg/kg via a large bore intravenous line over 3 to 5 minutes (see Table 2). Check an activated clotting time (ACT) 5 to 10 minutes after the bolus dose is completed.

The PCI procedure may proceed if the ACT is greater than 300 seconds. Dosage Adjustment: If the ACT is less than 300 seconds, an additional intravenous bolus dose of 150 mcg/kg should be administered, the infusion dose increased to 30 mcg/kg/min, and the ACT checked 5 to 10 minutes later (see Table 3). If the ACT is greater than 450 seconds, decrease the infusion rate to 15 mcg/kg/min, and check the ACT 5 to 10 minutes later (Table 3).

Continue titrating the dose until a therapeutic ACT (between 300 and 450 seconds) has been achieved; continue the same infusion rate for the duration of the PCI procedure. In case of dissection, impending abrupt closure, thrombus formation during the procedure, or inability to achieve or maintain an ACT over 300 seconds, additional bolus doses of 150 mcg/kg may be administered and the infusion dose increased to 40 mcg/kg/min.

Check the ACT after each additional bolus or change in the rate of infusion. [See table below.] 00 21 1500 90 70 24500 25 1750 105 80 28000 28 2000 120 90 31500 32 2250 135 100 35000 35 2500 150 110 38500 39 2750 165 120 42000 42 3000 180 130 45500 46 3250 195 140 49000 49 3500 210 [See table below.] 1050 63 80 12000 12 2400 144 1200 72 90 13500 14 2700 162 1350 81 100 15000 15 3000 180 1500 90 110 16500 17 3300 198 1650 99 120 18000 18 3600 216 1800 108 130 19500 20 3900 234 1950 117 140 21000 21 4200 252 2100 126 NOTE: 1 mg = 1000 mcg; 1 kg = 2.2 lbs Monitoring Therapy: For use in PCI, therapy with Argatroban Injection is monitored using ACT.

Obtain ACTs before dosing, 5 to 10 minutes after bolus dosing, following adjustments in the infusion rate, and at the end of the PCI procedure. Obtain additional ACTs every 20 to 30 minutes during a prolonged procedure. Continued Anticoagulation after PCI: If a patient requires anticoagulation after the procedure, Argatroban Injection may be continued, but at a rate of 2 mcg/kg/min and adjusted as needed to maintain the aPTT in the desired range [ see Dosage and Administration ].