Drugs used to treat Bleeding

Bleeding control Drugs

Bleeding problems may have their origin in naturally occurring pathological conditions, such as hemophilia or as a result of fibrinolytic states that may arise after GIT surgery. The use of anticoagulants may also give rise to hemorrhaging. certain natural proteins and vitamin K are affective in controlling this bleeding. Blood transfusion is also an option for treating severe hemorrhage.

A. Aminocaproic acid and tranexamic acid

• can control fibrinolytic states
• both agents are synthetic
• inhibit plasminogen activation
• orally active and excreted in urine

Potential side effect is intravascular thrombosis

B. Protamine sulfate

• antagonizes the anticoagulant effects of heparin
• it is derives from fish sperm or testes and is high in arginine content ( it is basic in nature)
• protamine interacts with the heparin and form a stable complex without anticoagulant activity.

 Adverse effect include:

1. hypersensitivity
2. dyspnea
3. flushing
4. bradycardia
5. hypotension when injected rapidly

C. Vitamin K

• the vitamin K1 (phytonadione) administration can stem bleeding due to the oral anticoagulants is not surprising, because those substances interact with the action of the vitamin.
• response of vit K is slow (24hrs)
• vitamin K is required for patients receiving the cephalosporins, cefamandole, cefoperazone and moxalactam.

D. Aprotinin

• it is a serine protease inhibitor
• it block plasmin
• can inhibil streptokinase
• approved for prophylactic  use to reduce blood loss and the need for blood transfusion in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery.
• it attenuates inflammatory response.