Abciximab is an injectable medication used to prevent complications from reduced bloodflow to the heart (cardiac ischemia) in people who are getting a procedure called percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to open clogged blood vessels. It's typically used together with other medications that prevent blood clots from forming (aspirin and heparin). But abciximab has been discontinued and is no longer available in the United States.
Abciximab is an antiplatelet medication given through the vein (intravenous, IV) by a trained healthcare provider in the hospital. It prevents blood cells called platelets from sticking together and blocking blood vessels in people getting a PCI (a procedure to open blood vessels). It's also used in people with a condition called unstable angina (when the heart doesn't get enough oxygen) who aren't responding well to other medications and have a PCI planned within 24 hours.
No, abciximab has been discontinued by the manufacturer and is no longer available in the United States.
The manufacturer, Janssen, reported an interruption in production at one of their manufacturing sites. They made the decision to remove abciximab from the market in the United States voluntarily, and their decision wasn't due to any safety issues.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.