Xigris is the only medication approved to treat severe sepsis, which kills more than 1,000 people every day. Sepsis is also sometimes called septic shock. Almost 750,000 Americans suffer from sepsis every year. Sepsis can occur as a complication following a common illness like pneumonia.
What are some important things I should know about Xigris?
Xigris can cause death in patients with single organ dysfunction and people who have undergone recent surgery, so Xigris should not be used for these patients.
Xigris can increase a patient’s risk of bleeding, so people with internal bleeding, recent stroke, recent severe head trauma and epidural catheters should not use Xigris, nor should people with bleeding disorders.
Xigris is for patients with severe sepsis who are at high risk of death. Xigris is not approved for children with severe sepsis.
Severe sepsis is a disease that can develop as a complication after common illnesses like pneumonia and bacterial infections. Sepsis can be deadly, and more than 1,000 people worldwide die from it everyday.
Severe sepsis is followed by septic shock and then multiple organ failure, and then death.
Xigris can cause death in some patients, as well as increase the risk of bleeding. Patients at risk of death from bleeding should not use Xigris. Xigris is in the FDA pregnancy category C, which means it can cause injury to unborn or nursing babies.
You should contact your doctor immediately if you experience:
- unusual bruising or bleeding
- swelling or inflammation
- stomach pain
- fever
- fainting or dizziness
- fatigue
- heart rate increase
- difficulty breathing or hyperventilation
Also, tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking, what your recent medical history (such as surgeries) is, and if you are pregnant or nursing.
Tags: death, infection, sepsis, Xigris