Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Kengrexal
What is KENGREXAL used for?
KENGREXAL is used:
- To reduce the risk blood clots and heart attack in patients with coronary artery disease who are receiving a procedure called a percutaneous coronary intervention.
- In patients who have not been treated with certain other anti-platelet medicines.
How does KENGREXAL work?
KENGREXAL is an anti-platelet medicine. Platelets are small blood cells that help blood clot. KENGREXAL diminishes the clumping of platelets and reduces the chance of a blood clot forming.
What are the ingredients in KENGREXAL?
Medicinal ingredients: cangrelor tetrasodium.
Non-medicinal ingredients: mannitol, sodium hydroxide for pH adjustment and sorbitol.
KENGREXAL comes in the following dosage forms:
As a powder for solution for injection containing 50 mg cangrelor (as cangrelor tetrasodium).
Do not use KENGREXAL if:
- you are allergic to cangrelor or to any of the other ingredients in KENGREXAL.
- you are currently bleeding or if you have an increased risk of bleeding such as with certain medical conditions.
- you have ever had a stroke.
To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take KENGREXAL. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:
- Are or you think you may be or have been told that you are at an increased risk of bleeding. For example, some diseases and medicines may increase your risk of bleeding.
- Are taking other medicines that increase your risk of bleeding including blood thinners such as warfarin.
- Have kidney problems.
- Have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars.
- Are less than 18 years old.
Other warnings you should know about:
Pregnancy:
KENGREXAL should not be used during pregnancy unless necessary. This is because it is not known how it might affect an unborn baby. Before you are given this medicine, tell your healthcare professional if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning to become pregnant. You and your healthcare professional will decide if you will be given KENGREXAL.
Breastfeeding:
Tell your healthcare professional if you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. It is not known if KENGREXAL passes into breastmilk. Ask your healthcare professional for advice before breastfeeding your baby.
Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements, or alternative medicines.
The following may interact with KENGREXAL:
- Clopidogrel, an anti-platelet medicine used to prevent heart attack and stroke.
- Prasugrel, an anti-platelet medicine used to prevent heart attack and stroke.
How to take KENGREXAL:
- KENGREXAL will be given to you in the hospital by a healthcare professional.
- It will be injected and then infused directly into your vein.
- You may receive other anti-platelet medicines after you receive KENGREXAL.
- Follow all instructions given to you by your healthcare professional.
Usual dose:
The dose you receive will depend on your weight. The recommended dose is:
- 30 micrograms per kilogram body weight by injection, followed immediately by
- 4 micrograms per kilogram body weight per minute by infusion, for at least 2 hours. Your healthcare professional will decide if you need to be treated for longer periods.
Overdose:
KENGREXAL will be given to you by a healthcare professional. They will decide how to treat you, including stopping the treatment and monitoring for signs of side effects.
| If you think you, or a person you are caring for, have taken too much KENGREXAL, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, or regional poison control centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms. |
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What are possible side effects from using KENGREXAL?
These are not all the possible side effects you may have when taking KENGREXAL. If you experience any side effects not listed here, tell your healthcare professional.
Side effects may include:
- Minor bruising including small red bruises on the skin or at the site of an injection under the skin causing swelling
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Pain at the injection site
- Back pain
- Headache
| Serious side effects and what to do about them | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | ||||
| Only if severe | In all cases | |||||
| COMMON | ||||||
| Bleeding from anywhere in the body | ✔ | |||||
| Kidney problems: change in frequency of urination, pain when you urinate, nausea, vomiting, swelling of extremities, fatigue. | ✔ | |||||
| Shortness of breath | ✔ | |||||
| Change in blood pressure: dizziness, headaches, vision problems, shortness of breath. | ✔ | |||||
| UNCOMMON | ||||||
| Cardiac tamponade (extra fluid or blood in sac around your heart): anxiety, restlessness, sharp pain in chest felt in the neck, shoulder, back, or abdomen, chest pain that gets worse with deep breathing or coughing, problems breathing, feeling light-headed, discomfort. | ✔ | |||||
| Kidney failure: decrease in amount of urine, fluid retention, shortness of breath, fatigue, confusion, nausea, weakness, irregular heartbeat. | ✔ | |||||
| Slow heart rate: chest pain, confusion or memory problems, dizziness or light-headedness, easily tiring, fatigue, fainting or near-fainting. | ✔ | |||||
| Presyncope (feeling like you’re going to faint): dizziness or light-headedness, nauseated, trouble hearing, feel weak. | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| Serious side effects and what to do about them | ||||||
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | ||||
| Only if severe | In all cases | |||||
| RARE | ||||||
Allergic reaction: rash, itching, throat tightening/swelling, swelling of the tongue or lips, difficulty breathing. Severe allergic reaction: feeling lightheaded or faint, breathing difficulties, shallow breathing, wheezing fast heartbeat, clammy skin, confusion, anxiety, collapsing, losing consciousness, sudden feeling of weakness. | ✔ | |||||
| Intracranial hemorrhage (bleeding in the brain): headache, vomiting, drowsiness and progressive loss of consciousness, dizziness, confusion, unequal pupil size, slurred speech, loss of movement or paralysis. | ✔ | |||||
| Angioedema (swelling of tissue under the skin): difficulty breathing; swollen face, hands and feet, genitals tongue, throat; Swelling of the digestive tract causing diarrhea, nausea or vomiting. | ✔ | |||||
Sudden tightening of your airways: chest tightening, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, tiredness, dizziness. Coronary artery dissection (tear in a blood vessel in the heart): chest pain, rapid heartbeat or fluttery feeling in the chest, pain in the arms, shoulders, back or jaw, shortness of breath, unusual extreme tiredness, nausea, dizziness. | ✔ | |||||
| Coronary artery perforation (hole in the artery that supplies blood to the heart): shortness of breath, | ✔ | |||||
| Serious side effects and what to do about them | ||||||
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | ||||
| Only if severe | In all cases | |||||
| low blood pressure, fast heartbeat, chest pain. | ||||||
| Noisy breathing that occurs due to a narrowed airway | ✔ | |||||
| Blood loss anemia (loss of red blood cells due to bleeding): fatigue, weakness, pale or yellowish skin, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness or light-headedness, chest pain, cold hands and feet. | ✔ | |||||
| Hemolytic anemia (destruction of red blood cells faster than they can be made): abnormal paleness or lack of color of the skin, yellowish skin, eyes and mouth, dark-coloured urine, fever, weakness, dizziness, confusion. | ✔ | |||||
| UNKNOWN | ||||||
| High blood sugar: increased thirst and a dry mouth, frequent urination, tiredness, blurred vision, unintentional weight loss, recurrent infections. | ✔ | |||||
If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, tell your healthcare professional.
Reporting Side Effects
You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:
NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice. |
Storage:
KENGREXAL should be stored at Room Temperature (15°C to 30°C).
Keep out of reach and sight of children.
If you want more information about KENGREXAL:
- Talk to your healthcare professional
- Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada website: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/drug-product-database.html; the importer Methapharm Inc., by calling +1-800-287-7686 ext. 7804.