urokinase
What is the most important information I should know about urokinase?
If possible before you receive urokinase, tell your doctor if you have a brain tumor or aneurysm, hemophilia or other bleeding disorder, high blood pressure, or if you have recently had a stroke, brain or spinal surgery, or medical emergency requiring CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
In an emergency situation it may not be possible to tell your caregivers about your health conditions. Make sure any doctor caring for you afterward knows you have received this medicine.
What is urokinase?
Urokinase is a thrombolytic (THROM-bo-LIT-ik) drug, sometimes called a "clot-busting" drug. It helps your body produce a substance that dissolves unwanted blood clots.
Urokinase is used to treat blood clots in the lungs.
Urokinase may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my health care provider before I receive urokinase?
You should not be treated with urokinase if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
- active bleeding inside your body;
- a brain tumor or blood vessel disorder;
- a brain aneurysm (dilated blood vessel);
- a bleeding or blood clotting disorder (such as hemophilia);
- severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure;
- if you have had a recent medical emergency requiring CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation); or
- if you have had a stroke, brain surgery, or spinal surgery within in the past 2 months.
If possible 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.
In an emergency situation it may not be possible to tell your caregivers if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Make sure any doctor caring for your pregnancy or your baby knows you have received this medicine.
Urokinase is made from human plasma (part of the blood) which may contain viruses and other infectious agents. Donated plasma is tested and treated to reduce the risk of it containing infectious agents, but there is still a small possibility it could transmit disease. Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of using this medication.
How is urokinase given?
Urokinase is injected into a vein through an IV. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.
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.
After treatment with urokinase, your doctor may prescribe a blood thinner or other medication to help prevent future blood clots. Carefully follow all dosing instructions. These medications can make it easier for you to bleed, even from a minor injury.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Because you will receive urokinase in a clinical setting, you are not likely to miss a dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Since this medication is given by a healthcare professional in a medical setting, an overdose is unlikely to occur.
What should I avoid while receiving urokinase?
Ask your doctor before taking aspirin or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) shortly after you have received urokinase. These medications can increase your risk of bleeding.
Avoid activities that may increase your risk of bleeding or injury. Use extra care to prevent bleeding while shaving or brushing your teeth.
What are the possible side effects of urokinase?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Urokinase increases your risk of bleeding, which can be severe or life-threatening. Call your doctor or seek emergency medical attention if you have bleeding that will not stop. Bleeding may occur from a surgical incision, or from the skin where a needle was inserted during a blood test or while receiving injectable medication. You may also have bleeding on the inside of your body, such as in your stomach or intestines, kidneys or bladder, brain, or within the muscles.
Call your doctor at once if you have signs of bleeding inside your body, 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;
- red or pink urine; or
- sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), sudden severe headache, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance.
Some side effects may occur during or within 1 hour after the injection. Tell your caregiver right away if you feel chilled or feverish, nauseated, light-headed, or have chest tightness, back pain, trouble breathing, or fast heartbeats.
Also call your doctor at once if you have:
- chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;
- swelling, rapid weight gain, little or no urinating;
- severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting;
- darkening or purple discoloration of your fingers or toes;
- very slow heartbeats, shortness of breath, feeling light-headed;
- sudden severe back pain, muscle weakness, numbness or loss of feeling in your arms or legs;
- dangerously high blood pressure --severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears, nosebleed, anxiety, confusion, severe chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeats; 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. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect urokinase?
Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:
- a blood thinner (heparin, warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven);
- NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) --aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others; or
- medication used to prevent blood clots --abciximab, eptifibatide, tirofiban, vorapaxar.
This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with urokinase, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.
Where can I get more information?
Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about urokinase.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 3.02. Revision date: 3/3/2017.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.