Activase

Before taking this medicine

Activase (alteplase) must not be used in people with active internal bleeding, recent surgery inside the skull or spinal canal, recent serious head injury, conditions inside the skull that increase bleeding risk, a tendency to bleed, or current severe uncontrolled high blood pressure. For acute ischemic stroke treatment, it must not be used in people with current bleeding inside the skull or bleeding around the brain (subarachnoid hemorrhage). For heart attack or pulmonary embolism treatment, it must not be used in people with a recent history of stroke. Activase increases bleeding risk. Injections into muscles should be avoided, and patients must be monitored for bleeding. Treatment must be stopped if serious bleeding occurs. Patients must also be monitored for hypersensitivity reactions during the infusion and for several hours afterward; treatment must be stopped if signs develop. In patients with pulmonary embolism, breaking down underlying clots in deep veins may cause further embolism. Cholesterol embolism, where cholesterol material blocks blood vessels, has rarely been reported with medicines that dissolve blood clots.