What type of medication is alteplase?

Alteplase is classified as a thrombolytic medication, which means it is designed to dissolve blood clots. It is a tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) that works by converting plasminogen to plasmin, an enzyme that breaks down fibrin, the protein that forms the structural framework of blood clots. Thrombolytic medications like alteplase are primarily used in emergency situations such as acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) or ischemic stroke, where timely dissolution of a clot can restore blood flow to prevent damage to tissues and organs.

In the context of its use, alteplase’s mechanism allows healthcare providers to address life-threatening conditions promptly, emphasizing its critical role in emergency medicine. Other types of medications, such as anticoagulants, are used to prevent new clots from forming but do not actively dissolve existing clots like alteplase does. Analgesics relieve pain, while sedatives are used to help patients relax or sleep, but neither category relates to the function of thrombolytics in treating clot-related conditions.