Persantine
Generic name:
Pharmacist-reviewed drug information from the RxWiki encyclopedia.
Overview
Persantine is a prescription medication used to reduce the risk of blood clots after heart valve replacement. Persantine belongs to a group of drugs called antiplatelet agents. It works by preventing excessive blood clotting.
This medication comes in tablet form and is taken typically 4 times a day.
Common side effects of Persantine include stomach pain, headache, and rash. Persantine can also cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Persantine affects you.
What is it used for?
Persantine is a prescription medication used to reduce the risk of blood clots after heart valve replacement.
This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
How to take it
The recommended dose range of Persantine to prevent blood clots after a heart valve replacement is 75-100 mg four times daily as an adjunct to the usual warfarin therapy.
Warnings
Serious side effects have been reported with Persantine including the following:
- Coronary Artery Disease: Persantine has a vasodilatory effect and should be used with caution in patients with severe coronary artery disease (e.g., unstable angina or recently sustained myocardial infarction). Chest pain may be aggravated in patients with underlying coronary artery disease who are receiving Persantine.
- Liver failure. Elevations of liver enzymes and liver failure have been reported with taking Persantine.
- Low blood pressure. Persantine should be used with caution in patients with low blood pressure since it can produce peripheral vasodilation.
Do not take Persantine if you are allergic to Persantine or any of its ingredients.
Side effects
Serious side effects have been reported with Persantine. See "Persantine Precautions" section.
Common side effects of Persantine include:
- Dizziness
- Rash
- Headache
- Stomach upset
This is not a complete list of Persantine 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.
Drug interactions
No drug interactions have been studied by the manufacturer. However, you should tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including adenosine and cholinesterase inhibitors, prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Not all drug interactions are known or reported and new drug interactions are continually being reported.
Pregnancy
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.
Persantine falls into category B. There are no well-done studies that have been done in humans with Persantine. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication, and the babies did not show any medical issues related to this medication. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, Persantine should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.
Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
Persantine has been detected in human breast milk. Because of the possibility for adverse reactions in nursing infants from Persantine, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or to stop use of this medication. The importance of the drug to the mother should be considered.
All information on this site is provided “as-is” for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. You should consult with a medical professional if you have any questions about your health.