Trasylol: Blood-Clotting Drug Tied to Kidney Damage, Heart Attack, and Stroke
Trasylol, the drug designed to reduce bleeding during heart bypass surgery, was recalled in 2007 after medical researchers found the drug increased the risk of kidney damage, heart attack, stroke, and death more than similar drugs. First approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1993, Trasylol helped prevent life-threatening bleeding during cardiac and bypass surgeries by helping the blood clot faster, thus reducing the need for blood transfusions.
However, the FDA later learned that Trasylol had life-threatening side effects and ordered the drug off the market on November 5, 2007. The recall followed a series of scientific reports that found a connection between Trasylol and life-threatening complications and side effects. Before it was recalled, Trasylol had been given to more than one million patients and required at least 10,000 people to undergo dialysis treatment to treat complications from the drug.
Studies Find Trasylol Dangers
In 2007, a team of Canadian researchers released a study that showed a clear link between Trasylol use and deadly health risks. Earlier studies had also discussed the dangers of taking Trasylol and found that patients who were given the drug during surgery faced a 50 percent increase in the risk of heart attack and increased chances of suffering a stroke. In the wake of the scientific findings, Bayer AG, the maker of Trasylol, announced it was pulling the controversial drug from the market.
Safer Alternative to Trasylol Are Available
There are several safer alternatives to Trasylol. The generic drugs aminocaproic acid and tranexamic acid have been to shown to be effective at controlling bleeding during bypass and cardiac surgeries. Using these generic drugs would prevent more than 11,000 kidney complications, save over $1 billion in healthcare costs, and reduce drug costs by $250 million worldwide, officials said.
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Permalink Tags: heart attack, kidney damage, stroke, Trasylol
