Other Injectable Anticoagulants or Blood thinners
Other injectable anticoagulants approved for use are fondaparinux, lepirudin, bivalirudin, argatroban, danaparoid and drotrecogin alfa.
Other injectable anticoagulants are:
Fondaparinaux (Brand name Arixtra)
Fondaparinux is a synthetic heparin derivative. It is administered once a day and does not need repeated monitoring. It should not be used in people with kidney disease. It has less chance of causing low platelets than even LMWH. It is used for treatment and prevention of deep vein thrombosis and treatment of pulmonary embolism.
Lepirudin (Brand name Refludan)
Lepirudine is extracted from leech salivary gland. It is administered through a vein to patients developing low platelets with heparin. It should be used with caution in patients with kidney disease. Daily monitoring of aPTT is needed while the patient is on lepirudine treatment.
Bivalirudin (Brand name Angiomax)
Bivalirudin is similar to lepirudin in the mechanism by which it achieves anticoagulation. It is used as an alternative to heparin in patients undergoing angioplasty and cardiac intervention, including those patients who develop low platelet levels with heparin. It is administered through a vein and is used along with oral aspirin. Its dose should be reduced in kidney disease.
Argatroban
Argatroban is used as an alternative to lepirudin in patients developing low platelets with heparin. Its dose should be reduced in patients with liver disease.
Danaparoid (Brand name Orgaran)
Danaparoid is used in some countries as an anticoagulant. It is administered by subcutaneous injection just under the skin and not into a vein.
Drotrecogin alfa (Brand name Xigris)
Drotrecogin alfa prevents clot formation by inhibiting clotting factors Va and VIIIa. It is used in adults with severe infection (sepsis) who are at a high risk of death. It is administered through a vein.
