MEDIA RELEASE
Page 1 of 2
24 November 2009
34,000 PER ANNUM HEART ATTACK PATIENTS HAVE NEW
TREATMENT OPTION FROM 1st DECEMBER
Australia’s 34,000¹ patients who undergo a procedure to relieve blocked heart arteries will have
access to a new blood-thinning drug –
Effient®
(Prasugrel)
from the 1
st
December when it
becomes available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Leading Australian cardiologist Dr Ron Dick, The Cardiac Sciences Clinical Institute at Epworth,
said, “After a stent (tubing to hold a blocked artery open) is inserted, platelets in the blood can
clump around the stent, causing blood clots in the artery that could lead to a second heart
attack, chest pain or death.²
Patients are given blood-thinning
medication such as Effient®
to
reduce the risk of this happening.
Dr Dick said, “A large percentage of heart attack patients often struggle to strictly adhere to the
lifestyle changes (heart attack resolutions)
and medications that are
needed
to prevent future
heart events. As time wears on and patients start to feel better, they may decide to stop taking
their medications despite the risk that this could cause a second heart attack.
“In the beginning people are overwhelmed and shocked, so they are more receptive to advice,
and listen when their doctor tells them to take their heart-protecting, life-protecting medications.
Having a heart attack is a very significant life event.
“The stent is only part of the solution-an ongoing commitment to their heart attack resolutions
such as doing regular exercise, quitting smoking, good nutrition, moderate alcohol intake and
attending cardiac rehabilitation³
is also important. The other piece
is continuing with their
various blood-thinning, blood pressure, and cholesterol medications,” Dr Dick concluded.
Effient® is given as a 60mg initial dose. The usual ongoing dose is 10mg once daily for patients
under 75yrs and over 60kg. Patients should also take aspirin (75mg to 325mg) daily. If Effient is
needed for a patient over 75yrs or under 60kg, a 5mg once a day dose may be given. Decisions
concerning patient appropriateness for this medication should be made by the treating doctor.²
Effient is contraindicated in patients who have a medical condition that causes bleeding
e.g.
stomach ulcers or bleeding in the head, who have had a stroke or
transient
ischaemic attack, severe liver disease, or an allergy to any ingredient in Effient.²
The potential side effects of Effient include a rash, nose bleeds,
bleeding gums,
anaemia, unusual or unexpectedly longer lasting bleeding or bruising, blood in the urine
or stools or coughing up blood.²
.
Dr Dick is urging all Australians to stick with their post-heart attack resolutions and medication
over this Christmas and New Year holidays. Talk to your doctor if you are considering giving up
your medication. Don’t risk a second heart attack. It’s just not worth it.”
MEDIA RELEASE
Page 2 of 2
Cardiovascular disease kills one Australian nearly every 10 minutes,
4
and nearly 90,000 heart
attack and chest pain events (enough to fill the MCG) are expected to occur in 2009.
5
About heart attack and chest pain
Heart attack and chest pain are symptoms of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS).
ACS describes the conditions that occur when there is sudden insufficient blood supply to the heart
muscle, which is often due to a blockage caused by either a blood clot or fatty build up. This lack of
blood supply can lead to chest pain (unstable angina) and heart attack (myocardial infarction).
Death can occur if the blood supply is not quickly restored through either medications that thin the
blood, or a procedure (insertion of a stent) that opens the blocked artery.
ACS symptoms are chest or left arm pain, nausea, vomiting, sweating, and dizziness or light-
headedness.
For more information on stents
(coronary angioplasty or coronary stenting):
NAL.pdf
For further information please contact:
Tania Paccanaro
mob: 0414 920 299 or desk 61 2 9291 3322
Fiona Bailey
mob: 0416 089 731
References
1.
AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) (2008) Australian Hospital Statistics 2007-08
2.
Eli Lilly, (2009), Consumer Médicine Information
3.
National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (2006), Guidelines for the
management of acute coronary syndromes 2006, The Medical Journal of Australia 184 (8): S1-S30
4.
Heart Foundation (2009) Cardiovascular disease statistics
5.
Access Economics (2009), The economic cost of heart attack and chest pain (ACS)
PBS Information: This product is not currently listed on the PBS. It will be available from 1 December.
About Effient:
Approved Indications: When co-administered with aspirin, prevention of atherothrombotic events in patients with acute coronary
syndromes (moderate to high risk unstable angina (UA), non ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) or ST-segment
elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)) who are to undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Dosage: Following a single
60mg loading dose (LD), 10 mg once daily maintenance dose (MD) with or without food. Patients
=75 years of age or <60kg: a
single 60mg LD followed by a 5mg MD. Monitor use in patients with renal impairment; monitor use in Asian patients. Overdose:
May lead to prolonged bleeding. Contraindications: Active pathological bleeding; Known history of stroke of transient ischaemic
attack (TIA); Severe hepatic impairment; Known hypersensitivity or allergy to any ingredient in EFFIENT. Precautions: Bleeding
risk; Patients
=75 years; Pat
ients <60kg; Surgery; Discontinuation; Neoplasms; Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP); Not
studied in pregnant or lactating women; Not for paediatric use; Galactose intolerance, Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose
malabsorption; Concomitant administration of Heparin, Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), Warfarin. Adverse
Reactions: TIMI Major and Minor Bleeding, Rash, Anaemia, Neoplasm. Please review Full PI before Prescribing. Full PI is available
on request from Eli Lilly Australia Pty. Limited. 112 Wharf Road, WEST RYDE NSW 2114. Based on PI last amended 04 June 2009.
For additional information please review the full EFFIENT Product Information following.
Ends#
NEWS 
