Last update Aug. 29, 2021

Desirudin

Likely Compatibility

Fairly safe. Mild or unlikely adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Read Commentary.

Synthetic analog by recombinant technology of natural hirudin consisting of a polypeptide chain of 65 amino acids.
It is a thrombin inhibitor; it inhibits platelet aggregation and fibrinogen formation.
Indicated for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis in patients undergoing elective hip and knee replacement surgery.
Subcutaneous administration twice a day for a maximum of 12 days.

At the date of the last update, there was no available published data on its excretion in breast milk.

Its high molecular weight and absolute fixation to plasma thrombin make it unlikely to pass into breast milk in a clinically significant amount.

Due to its protein nature, it is inactivated in the gastrointestinal tract, not being absorbed (practically nil oral bioavailability), which hinders or prevents the passage into plasma of the infant from ingested breast milk except in the premature and during the immediate neonatal period, during which there may be increased intestinal permeability.

It was withdrawn from the market in 2014 for commercial reasons (EMA 2014).

Alternatives

  • Acenocoumarol (Safe product and/or breastfeeding is the best option.)
  • Dalteparin Sodium (Safe product and/or breastfeeding is the best option.)
  • Enoxaparin Sodium (Safe product and/or breastfeeding is the best option.)
  • Fondaparinux Sodium (Safe product and/or breastfeeding is the best option.)
  • Heparin (Safe product and/or breastfeeding is the best option.)
  • Lepirudin (Safe product and/or breastfeeding is the best option.)
  • Rivaroxaban (Safe product and/or breastfeeding is the best option.)
  • Warfarin (Safe product and/or breastfeeding is the best option.)

Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM team of health professionals, and are based on updated scientific publications. It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it. The pharmaceutical industry contraindicates breastfeeding, mistakenly and without scientific reasons, in most of the drug data sheets.

Jose Maria Paricio, Founder & President of APILAM/e-Lactancia

Your contribution is essential for this service to continue to exist. We need the generosity of people like you who believe in the benefits of breastfeeding.

Thank you for helping to protect and promote breastfeeding.

José María Paricio, founder of e-lactancia.

Other names

Desirudin in other languages or writings:

Group

Desirudin belongs to this group or family:

Tradenames

Main tradenames from several countries containing Desirudin in its composition:

Pharmacokinetics

Variable Value Unit
Oral Bioavail. 0 %
Molecular weight 6.964 daltons
Protein Binding 100 %
VD 0.25 l/Kg
Tmax 1 - 3 hours
2 hours

References

  1. EMA. Public statement on Revasc. Withdrawal of the marketing authorisation in the European Union. Human Medicines Development and Evaluation. 2014 Full text (in our servers)
  2. EMA. Desirudina. Ficha técnica. 2007 Full text (in our servers)
  3. EMA. Desirudin. Drug Summary. 2007 Full text (in our servers)

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