tirofiban at a glance
Medicine class
Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitor
Administration
Intravenous treatment given and monitored in hospital
Main safety concern
Bleeding, including around vascular access sites
Monitoring
Blood count, clotting and signs of bleeding are checked
What is tirofiban used for?
UK-licensed uses in adults include:
Preventing an early heart attack in high-risk non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome.
Reducing major cardiovascular events in acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction when primary percutaneous coronary intervention is intended.
Use with aspirin and unfractionated heparin unless contraindicated.
How does tirofiban work?
Tirofiban reversibly blocks glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptors, preventing fibrinogen from linking activated platelets. This reduces platelet aggregation and clot growth.
How to take tirofiban
Tirofiban is not taken by mouth. A specialist team administers it through a vein using calibrated equipment and monitors the infusion, blood results and vascular access sites.
Do not handle or adjust the infusion yourself.
The solution should be clear and the bag intact.
It may share an infusion line with unfractionated heparin, but supplementary medicines must not be added to the bag.
tirofiban side effects
Common or expected effects
- Bruising or blood collecting under the skin
- Mild bleeding from the nose, mouth, gums or catheter site
- Headache
- Nausea
- Fever
Get urgent medical advice
- Major or internal bleeding
- Bleeding in or around the brain or spinal cord
- A sudden severe fall in platelet count, sometimes with bleeding, chills or fever
- Severe allergic reaction, including wheezing, hives or anaphylaxis
tirofiban in pregnancy
Human pregnancy data are absent or very limited. Tirofiban is not recommended during pregnancy unless a specialist considers it clearly necessary for the acute clinical situation.
tirofiban while breastfeeding
It is unknown whether tirofiban enters human milk, and a risk to the infant cannot be excluded. The clinical team should make an individual decision about breastfeeding and treatment; evidence for antiplatelet treatments during breastfeeding is generally limited.
tirofiban interactions
Treatments affecting platelets or coagulation can increase bleeding risk and require specialist review.
Warfarin and other oral anticoagulants
Concurrent use can increase bleeding risk.
Aspirin and other antiplatelet medicines
Platelet inhibition is increased, so bleeding and blood results require monitoring.
Heparins
The combination prolongs bleeding. Unfractionated heparin is ordinarily co-administered under close monitoring; experience with low-molecular-weight heparins is limited.
Common questions about tirofiban
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is tirofiban an anticoagulant?
No. It is an antiplatelet treatment that blocks GP IIb/IIIa receptors; anticoagulants such as heparin act on the clotting cascade.
Can tirofiban be taken as a tablet?
No. It is administered intravenously by a hospital team.
Does tirofiban dissolve an existing blood clot?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.