Tenecteplase

Tenecteplase is a prescription medication used for the immediate treatment of a heart attack. Tenecteplase belongs to a group of drugs called thrombolytics. These work by breaking up or dissolving blood clots, which are the main cause of heart attacks. 

This medication is available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a healthcare professional. 

Common side effects of tenecteplase include development of a hematoma, and bleeding.

Tenecteplase is a prescription medication used for the immediate treatment of a heart attack. 

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tenecteplase may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• Metalyse

• TNKase

Serious side effects have been reported with tenecteplase. See the “Tenecteplase Precautions” section.

Common side effects of tenecteplase include:

• Hematoma
• Minor bleeds (nosebleeds, bleeding from the gums, etc.)
• Major bleeds (internal bleeding, bleeding inside the brain etc.)

This is not a complete list of side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take 

• anticoagulant (blood thinner) medications such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), heparin, enoxaparin (Lovenox), fondaparinux (Arixtra), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), and apixaban (Eliquis). 
• antiplatelets (a type of blood thinner)  such as clopidogrel (Plavix), aspirin, prasugrel (Effient), ticagrelor (Brilinta), ticlopidine (Ticlid), abciximab (ReoPro), eptifibatide (Integrilin), tirofiban (Aggrastat), and cilostazol (Pletal)

This is not a complete list of tenecteplase drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with tenecteplase, including

• arrhythmias (disruptions in the natural heart rhythm)
• bleeding
• cholesterol emboli (dislodging of cholesterol plagues in the blood, leading to clots). Symptoms include kidney failure, increases in blood pressure, swelling of the pancreas, heart attack, stroke, and muscle damage.

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of tenecteplase there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking tenecteplase, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to tenecteplase or to any of its ingredients
• are actively bleeding
• have had a stroke in the past
• have had brain or spinal surgery in the last two months
• have had a brain or spinal injury in the last two months
• have brain cancer
• have aneurysms
• uncontrolled high blood pressure
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Tenecteplase falls into category C. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. No well-controlled studies have been done in humans. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if tenecteplase crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using tenecteplase. 

This medication should only be used when given by a healthcare professional in a hospital setting.

Treatment should be started as soon as possible after the onset of heart attack symptoms.

Tenecteplase is available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a healthcare professional.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• your weight
• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking

The recommended dose range of tenecteplase for the immediate treatment of a heart attack is 30 to 50 mg administered directly into the vein (IV) over 5 seconds.

If tenecteplase is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

Store at controlled room temperature or under refrigeration.