Bivalirudin

Bivalirudin is a medicine that helps keep blood from clotting too much. It is a man-made copy of a tiny piece of a protein found in leech spit. Doctors give it through a needle into a vein, usually in the hospital. It works by blocking a body chemical called thrombin.

Thrombin is what makes blood turn into clots. When this medicine blocks thrombin, blood stays thinner and flows more easily. Doctors use it most often during heart procedures, like when a blocked heart artery is opened up. It is also used for some people with a certain type of heart chest pain.

This medicine can cause bleeding, which is its biggest risk, so it is only given with careful watching by medical staff. It works quickly and its effect wears off relatively fast, which doctors find helpful. Most of what we know comes from studies in adults having heart procedures. People with kidney problems may need dose changes because the drug leaves the body through the kidneys.