cangrelor at a glance
Medicine class
Direct, reversible P2Y12 platelet-receptor inhibitor
Usual role
Prevention of clot-related cardiovascular events during PCI in selected adults
Administration
Given into a vein by hospital professionals
Offset
Platelet function usually recovers within an hour after stopping
What is cangrelor used for?
It is licensed, with aspirin, to reduce thrombotic cardiovascular events in adults with coronary artery disease undergoing PCI who have not received an oral P2Y12 inhibitor beforehand and for whom oral treatment is not feasible or desirable.
Prevention of procedure-related clotting complications, including events involving a coronary stent, in the licensed PCI population.
How does cangrelor work?
Cangrelor selectively and reversibly blocks platelet P2Y12 receptors. This prevents ADP from activating platelets and making them clump together. Its effect begins rapidly and wears off quickly after treatment stops.
cangrelor preparations and strengths
Injection
Route: Parenteral
Strengths: 50 mg
How to take cangrelor
Cangrelor is not swallowed or self-administered. A healthcare professional prepares the powder using aseptic technique and gives it through an intravenous line during hospital care. Food does not affect administration.
Tell the team about bleeding problems, previous stroke or transient ischaemic attack, recent major surgery or injury, severe uncontrolled blood pressure, pregnancy, breastfeeding and all other medicines.
Tell the team if you have hereditary fructose intolerance because the formulation contains sorbitol.
cangrelor side effects
Common or expected effects
- Bleeding, including bruising, small haematomas or oozing at the blood-vessel access site
- Shortness of breath
- Reduced haemoglobin or haematocrit
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe, internal or life-threatening bleeding
- Bleeding inside the skull
- Serious hypersensitivity, including anaphylaxis or angioedema
- Bleeding around the heart causing cardiac tamponade
- Coughing up blood or other pulmonary bleeding
cangrelor in pregnancy
Human pregnancy data are absent or limited, and animal studies found reproductive toxicity. Cangrelor is not recommended during pregnancy; urgent cardiac treatment requires specialist assessment of maternal need and potential fetal risk.
cangrelor while breastfeeding
It is unknown whether cangrelor enters human milk, and risk to a breastfed infant cannot be excluded. Evidence for antiplatelets during breastfeeding is generally limited, so an individual specialist assessment is needed.
cangrelor interactions
The clinical team should review all antiplatelets, anticoagulants and medicines affecting bleeding before cangrelor is given.
Clopidogrel
Cangrelor can prevent clopidogrel from producing its expected platelet effect when given together, so transition must be carefully coordinated.
Prasugrel
Transition can be managed without a clinically important loss of platelet inhibition.
Ticagrelor
Studies found no adverse pharmacodynamic interaction, allowing transition without interruption of antiplatelet effect.
Common questions about cangrelor
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Why is cangrelor used during coronary angioplasty or stent insertion?
It rapidly reduces platelet clumping during PCI, lowering the risk of clot-related complications in the selected licensed population.
Is cangrelor a blood thinner?
It is an antiplatelet rather than an anticoagulant. It reduces the ability of platelets to stick together and form clots.
How quickly does it work and wear off?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.