Available Strength – 5000 Iu and 25000 Iu

Indications:

Venous Thrombosis

Pulmonary Embolism

Atrial fibrillation

Dosage:

Either and IV Bolus of 10000 IU with repeated smaller bolus injection as required or as a weight adjusted dose regimen of 100 or 175 U/kg followed by 10 to 15 U/kg per Hour

Uses:

Heparin is used as an Anticoagulant that stops blood to forming blood clots or making them bigger, as an anticoagulant heparin is used in below conditions

Venous Thromboembolism – A blood clot in vein

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Pulmonary Embolism

Heart attack

Brain stroke

Atrial fibrillation

Heart surgery

Contraindications:

The patient should not receive heparin if

• The platelet count is 1,00,000 mm or lower
• The patient cannot have routine monitoring tests performed to monitor therapeutic heparin
• The patient has an active, uncontrollable bleed except for disseminated intravascular coagulation
• Patients with a history of heparin induced thrombocytopenia should also avoid heparin

Adverse Drug Reactions:

Skin tissue death at injection sites

Chills

Fever

Rash

Hives

Itching

Burning

Shortness of breath

Interactions:

Taking heparin with certain drugs can increase risk of bleeding such drugs are

Aspirin

NSAIDs – Celecoxib, ibuprofen and naproxen

Anti-platelet drugs - Clopidogrel and dipyridamole

Hydroxychloroquine

Certain drugs can make heparin less effective

Eg

Digoxin

Tetracycline Antibiotics such as Doxycycline and Minocycline

Nicotine

Nitrates such as Isosorbide, Mononiterate and Nitroglycerine

Mechanism of Actions:

Heparin interacts with the naturally occurring plasma protein, Antithrombin III, to induce a Conformational change, which markedly enhances the serine protease activity of Antithrombin III, therby inhibiting the Activated Coagulation factor involved in the clotting sequence, particularly Xa and IIa. Small amounts of heparin inhibit Factor Xa, and large amount inhibit thrombin. Heparin also prevents the formation of a stable fibrin clot by inhibiting the activation of the fibrin stabilizing factor.