What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Alteplase and heparin
Alteplase's FDA label of January 20, 2026 names heparin in its warnings and precautions section; the heparin labels PlainMeds reads (4) do not name alteplase. The alteplase label: “Because heparin, aspirin, or Activase may cause bleeding complications, carefully monitor for bleeding, especially at arterial puncture sites.”
Check it at the source: the alteplase FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 20, 2026, Genentech, Inc.); the heparin FDA label on DailyMed (effective November 28, 2025, Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC).
What does the alteplase label say about heparin?
Alteplase label, warnings and precautionsBecause heparin, aspirin, or Activase may cause bleeding complications, carefully monitor for bleeding, especially at arterial puncture sites.
Source: FDA drug label (Activase), Genentech, Inc., effective January 20, 2026 (SPL set c669f77c-fa48-478b-a14b-80b20a0139c2), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the heparin label say about alteplase?
Heparin's label (effective November 28, 2025) and its 3 other brand-application labels do not name alteplase in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
Source: FDA drug label (Heparin Sodium), Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC, effective November 28, 2025 (SPL set d55b4a63-0c04-4874-b74f-9e9b9e8b008c), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Alteplase | Heparin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Heart attack and coronary artery disease, Blood clots (DVT and PE) | Blood clots (DVT and PE), Atrial fibrillation |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $186.38 per vial 2 mg vial | $1.18 per mL 5,000 unit/mL vial |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | In shortage |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once