Zontivity Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Zontivity Tablet contains vorapaxar, a Protease Activated Receptor-1 (PAR-1) inhibitor that belongs to a group of medicines called anti-platelet medicines. It is used to lower the chance of another heart attack, stroke, or death from a heart attack, and to reduce serious blood vessel problems in people with peripheral arterial disease. It works by stopping platelets from sticking together, which lowers the chance of a blood clot forming and blocking an artery. It is taken once daily, with or without food, together with aspirin and/or clopidogrel.

What is Zontivity Tablet

Zontivity contains vorapaxar, a medicine that belongs to a group called 'anti-platelet medicines.' Platelets are blood cells that help blood clot. Zontivity stops platelets from sticking together, which lowers the chance of a blood clot forming and blocking an artery.

Zontivity Tablet uses

• For people who have had a heart attack, to lower the chance of another heart attack, stroke, or death from a heart attack
• For people with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), to reduce the risk of serious blood vessel problems
• To lower the chance of needing an urgent procedure to open blocked arteries in the heart

Benefits of Zontivity Tablet

• Shown to reduce the combined rate of cardiovascular death, heart attack, stroke, and urgent procedures to open blocked heart arteries
• Taken only once per day
• Can be taken with or without food

How Zontivity Tablet works

Zontivity blocks a receptor on platelets called PAR-1, which thrombin normally activates to make platelets clump together. By blocking this receptor, the medicine helps prevent platelets from sticking together and forming unwanted blood clots.

Zontivity Tablet dosage

Take one tablet by mouth once a day, with or without food. It must be taken together with aspirin and/or clopidogrel as directed by your doctor; it should not be used alone. It may take at least 7 days before the medicine starts working. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If a dose is missed, take it as soon as you remember, but skip it if it is within 12 hours of your next scheduled dose. Do not stop taking this medicine without first talking to the doctor who prescribed it.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet — 2.08 mg

Side effects of Zontivity Tablet

Common

• Bleeding and bruising more easily
• Nose bleeds
• Anemia (low red blood cell count)

Serious

• Depression
• Rash or skin eruptions
• Bleeding gums
• Bleeding in the eye
• Double vision
• Inflammation of the stomach (gastritis)

Warnings and precautions

• Do not use this medicine if you have a history of stroke, mini-stroke (TIA), or bleeding in the brain, or if you currently have active, uncontrolled bleeding, since this raises the risk of dangerous bleeding in the brain.
• This medicine, like other antiplatelet drugs, increases the risk of bleeding, which can be serious, can affect the brain, and can sometimes be fatal.
• Avoid taking this medicine together with warfarin or other blood thinners, as this combination can increase bleeding risk.
• Do not take this medicine together with prasugrel or ticagrelor, two other antiplatelet medicines.
• Avoid taking certain medicines (like some antifungal drugs, HIV medicines, and antibiotics) together with this medicine, as they can raise its levels in your body and increase bleeding risk.
• Avoid taking certain seizure medicines, an antibiotic for tuberculosis, or St. John's Wort together with this medicine, as they can lower its levels and make it less effective.
• Stopping this medicine for a short time will not quickly lower bleeding risk if an urgent bleeding problem happens, because the drug stays active in the body a long time. There is no treatment to reverse its effects, and its antiplatelet effect can last for weeks after stopping.
• Tell your doctors and dentists that you are taking this medicine before any surgery or dental work, since it increases bleeding risk during procedures.
• Do not stop taking this medicine on your own without talking to the doctor who prescribed it, as stopping suddenly can make your condition worse.
• It is not known whether Zontivity will harm an unborn baby. The medicine should only be used during pregnancy if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk, and this decision should be made together with your doctor.
• It isn't known if this medicine passes into breast milk. Because of the risk of serious side effects like bleeding in a nursing baby, breastfeeding is not recommended while taking this medicine.
• Reduced kidney function is a risk factor for bleeding and should be considered before starting this medicine. It should be used with caution in people with severe kidney problems or kidney failure.
• This medicine should not be used by people with severe liver disease. It should be used with caution in people with moderate liver problems, since reduced liver function raises the risk of bleeding.
• This medicine is not expected to affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.

Storage

• Store at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C)
• Keep the medicine in the original bottle or blister package
• Keep the bottle tightly closed
• Keep the desiccant packet in the bottle to protect the medicine from moisture; do not throw it away
• Store blister packs in the original package until use
• Keep out of the sight and reach of children
• Do not throw away unused medicine via wastewater or household trash; ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines you no longer use

When to see a doctor

• Get medical help right away if you have severe or uncontrollable bleeding, pink, red, or brown urine, vomit that looks like blood or coffee grounds, black or tarry stools, or you cough up blood or blood clots.
• Call your doctor right away if you notice signs of a stroke, such as sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding, sudden trouble walking or loss of balance, or a sudden severe headache or dizziness with no known cause.
• If you take more of this medicine than prescribed, contact your doctor or go to the nearest emergency room right away, since you may be at higher risk of bleeding.

Alternatives

• Brilinta
• Plavix
• Aggrenox