Heparin: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use it

What medicine is Heparin?

What is Heparin for?

Heparin is an anticoagulant (blood thinner) drug with a function to prevent blood clots from forming.

Heparin is used to treat and prevent blood clots in the veins, arteries, or lungs. Heparin is also used before surgery to reduce the risk of blood clots.

Heparin injection should not be used to drain (clean) an intravenous (IV) catheter. Other types of Heparin products are available for use as catheter flow locks.

Heparin can also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

The heparin dosage and side effects of heparin are detailed below.

How is Heparin used?

Heparin is injected under the skin or into a vein through an IV. You may be given instructions how to use the IV at home.

Do not inject Heparin yourself if you do not fully understand how to administer the injection and dispose of used needles, IV tubes, and other items used to inject drugs.

Do not use Heparin injections if they have changed color or have particles in them. Call your doctor for a new prescription.

You may switch from injectable to oral (taken by mouth) heparin for a blood thinner. Do not stop using this drug until your doctor tells you to stop. You may use both the injectable and oral Heparin forms for a short time.
Follow the rules given by your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How is Heparin stored?

This medication is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Heparin dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dose of Heparin for adults?

Usual Adult Dose for Deep Vein Thrombosis : Continuous IV infusion: 5000 units IV for one time use as a bolus followed by IV infusion of 1,300 units / hour continuously. Or, one time using an IV bolus of 80 units / kg followed by an IV infusion of 18 units / kg / hour.

Intermittent injection of subcutaneous tissue under the skin: 17,500 units applied to the subcutaneous tissue under the skin every 12 hours.

Dosage should be adjusted for aPTT levels at 1.5-2.5 times the control.

Usual Adult Dose for Myocardial Infarction : once using 5000 units IV as a bolus followed by continuous infusion of 1000 units / hour.

Usual Adult Dose for Angina Pectoris : one time use of 5000 units IV as a bolus dose followed by a continuous infusion of 1000 units / hour.

Usual Adult Dose for Anticoagulation During Pregnancy : 5000 units used under the skin every 12 hours. This dose can be adjusted to maintain 6-hour control of aPTT 1.5 times or greater.

Usual Adult Dose for thrombosis / thromboembolic disorders: 100 units / mL every 6 to 8 hours for PVC catheter and peripheral Heparin lock. Additional flow should be given when blood is stagnant in the catheter, after the catheter has been used for medicine or blood, and after blood withdrawal from the catheter.

In addition 0.5 to 1 unit / mL for central and peripheral TPN has been shown to increase the duration of patency. Heparin-treated arterial line at a final concentration of 1 unit / mL

What is the dose of Heparin for children?

Usual Children's Dose for thrombosis / thromboembolic disorders: IV line flow:

Infant dosage: 10 units / mL every 6 to 8 hours.

Child dosage: 100 units / mL every 6 to 8 hours for PVC catheters and peripheral Heparin locks. Additional flow should be given when blood is stagnant in the catheter, after the catheter has been used for medicine or blood, and after blood withdrawal from the catheter.

Additional 0.5 to 1 unit / mL for central and peripheral TPN has been shown to increase the duration of patency. Heparin-treated arterial line at a final concentration of 1 unit / mL

In what dosage is Heparin available?

Solution, injection, sodium: 1000 units (500 ml), 2000 units (1000 mL), 25 000 units (250 ml, 500 ml); 1000 units / mL (1 mL, 10 mL, 30 mL); 2500 units / mL (10 mL); 5000 units / mL (1 mL, 10 mL); 10000 units / mL (1 mL, 4 mL, 5 mL); 20 000 units / mL (1 mL).

Solution, intravenous, sodium: 10 000 units (250ml), 12,500 units (250 ml), 20 000 units (500 ml), 25 000 units (250 ml, 500 ml), 1 unit / mL (1 mL, 2 mL, 2.5 mL, 3 mL, 5 mL, 10 mL), 2 units / mL (3 mL), 10 units / mL (1 mL, 2 mL, 2.5 mL, 3 mL, 5 mL, 10 mL, 30 mL), 100 units / mL (1 mL, 2 mL, 2.5 mL, 3 mL, 5 mL, 10 mL, 30 mL), 2000 units / mL (5 mL).

Heparin side effects

What side effects can be experienced due to Heparin?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: nausea, vomiting, sweating, hives, itching, difficulty breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, or feel like you might pass out.

Some people who receive Heparin injections have reactions to the infusion (when the drug is injected into a vein). Tell your nurse right away if you feel nauseous, dizzy, sweaty, or short of breath during or after the Heparin injection.

Stop using Heparin and call your doctor if you have any of the following serious side effects:

• Sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden severe headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance
• Chest pain, sudden cough, wheezing, rapid breathing, rapid heart rate
• Pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in one or both legs
• Difficulty breathing
• (in infants) extreme drowsiness, weakness, or gasping or gasping
• Fever, chills, runny nose, or watery eyes

Less serious side effects may include:

• Mild pain, redness, warmth, or skin changes where the medicine was injected
• Mild itching of your feet
• Bluish colored skin

Not everyone experiences the following side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Heparin Drug Warnings and Cautions

What should be known before using Heparin?

Before using Heparin,

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to Heparin, other drugs, beef products, pork products, or any of the ingredients in injectable Heparin. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a list of ingredients
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist about prescription and nonprescription drugs, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products that you are using or will be using. Be sure to mention the following: other anticoagulants such as warfarin (Coumadin); antihistamines (in many cough and cold medicines); antithrombin III (Thrombate III); aspirin or drugs containing aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn); dextran; digoxin (Digitek, Lanoxin); dipyridamole (Persantine, at Aggrenox); hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil); indomethacin (Indocin); phenylbutazone (Azolid) (not available in the US); quinine; and tetracycline antibiotics such as demeclocycline (Declomycin), doxycycline (Monodox, Vibramycin), minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin) and tetracycline (Bristacycline, Sumycin). Your doctor may need to change the dose of your medication or monitor you carefully for side effects
• Tell your doctor if you have low levels of platelets (the type of blood cells required for normal clotting) in your blood and if you have heavy bleeding that cannot be stopped anywhere in your body. Your doctor may advise you not to use Heparin
• Tell your doctor if you are having menstrual periods. if you have a fever or infection; and if you have recently had a spinal tap (removal of a small amount of fluid that has pooled the spinal cord to test for infection or other problems), spinal anesthesia (administering pain medication in the area around the spine), surgery, especially those involving the brain, spinal cord or eye, or heart attack. Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia (a condition in which blood doesn't clot normally), antithrombin III deficiency (a condition that causes blood clots to form), blood clots in the legs, lungs, or elsewhere. alone on the body, unusual bruising or purple spots under the skin, cancer, ulcers in the stomach or intestines, tubes draining the stomach or intestines, high blood pressure, or liver disease
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while using Heparin, call your doctor
• If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about using Heparin
• Tell your doctor if you smoke or use tobacco products and if you stop smoking during treatment with Heparin. Smoking can decrease the effectiveness of this drug

Is Heparin safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There is no adequate research on the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category C according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = Not at risk
• B = No risk in several studies
• C = May be risky
• D = There is positive evidence of risk
• X = Contraindicated
• N = Unknown

Studies in women show that this drug poses minimal risk to the baby when used during breastfeeding.

Heparin Drug Interactions

What medicines may interact with Heparin?

Drug interactions can change the performance of your medications or increase the risk of serious side effects. Not all possible drug interactions are listed in this document. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription / non-prescription drugs and herbal products) and consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without your doctor's approval

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

• Other blood thinners, such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
• Digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps)
• Dipyridamole (Persantine)
• Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil, Quineprox)
• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
• Indomethacin (Indocin)
• Cigarette nicotine, gum, lozenges, or skin patches
• Nitroglycerin (Nitro Dur, Nitrolingual, Nitrostat, Transderm Nitro, etc.)
• Antibiotics such as demeclocycline (Declomycin), doxycycline (Adoxa, Alodox, Avidoxy, Oraxyl, Doryx, Oracea, Vibramycin), minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin, Solodyn), or tetracycline (Ala-Tet, Brodspec, Panmycin, Sumycin)
• Cold, allergy, or sleeping pills (Allerest, Benadryl, Chlor-Trimeton, Dimetapp, Sominex, Tylenol PM, and others) or
• Salicylates such as aspirin, Nuprin pain caplet, Kaopectate, KneeRelief, Pamprin faucet formula, Pepto-Bismol, TRICOSAL, Trilisate, and others

Can food or alcohol interact with Heparin?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions can interact with Heparin?

The presence of other health problems in your body may affect the use of this medicine. Tell your doctor if you have other health problems.:

• Bacterial endocarditis (heart infection)
• Bleeding problems (eg hemophilia)
• Hypertension (high blood pressure), severe
• Liver disease
• Major surgery (for example, eyes, brain, or spine)
• Menstrual bleeding (periods), heavy or unusual
• Spinal anesthesia (numbing medication placed on the back)
• Stomach or intestinal ulcers - Use with caution. The risk of bleeding can increase
• Bleeding, active
• Thrombocytopenia (low platelets in the blood) caused by Heparin, history
• Thrombocytopenia (low platelets in the blood), severe - Should not be used in patients with this condition

Heparin overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (112) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Overdose symptoms may include:

• Nosebleed
• Blood in urine
• Black, colored stools
• Bruising easily
• Unusual bleeding
• The stool contains red blood
• Vomit that is bloody or looks like coffee grounds

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.

If you are going to be injecting Heparin yourself at home, talk to your doctor about what you should do if you forget to inject a dose.