Heparin

• To treat and prevent the formation of blood clots in leg veins (deep vein thrombosis), lungs (pulmonary embolism), in catheters (a thin tube) used in veins for a longer period.
• It prevents the formation of blood clots in the heart following a heart attack (mural thrombosis) and chest pain due to blockage in blood vessels of the heart (angina).

When should one not use Heparin

• If you are allergic to heparin or had an episode of skin allergy following heparin use.
• You may have high blood pressure or purpura (purple spots due to leakage of blood within the skin).
• If you are undergoing surgery of the brain, spine or eye, a lumbar puncture or local anaesthetic nerve block, or other procedure where bleeding could be a problem.
• Take diclofenac (pain and inflammation) intravenously.
• If you drink too often or a large amount of alcohol and bleeding from anywhere in the body.
• You may have a bleeding disorder or have haemophilia (a rare disorder where your blood does not clot easily).
• You may have active tuberculosis, serious liver disorder or if you bruise easily.
• The injection must not be administered intramuscularly or following a trauma.

Common side effects of this drug are:

• Bleeding
• Bruising
• Tingling or numbness in legs
• Back pain
• Allergy
• Local irritation
• Itching
• Rashes
• Nose bleeds
• Black tarry stools

Other General Warnings

• You may have a health condition that makes you more likely to bleed like stomach ulcer, hernia, inflammation of the heart, problems in the back of your eye, piles, a stroke, cancer or threatened miscarriage. If not sure, ask the doctor or nurse.
• You are elderly, over 60 years of age.
• You may have diabetes, excess acid or high levels of potassium in the blood or are taking a medicine that may increase the potassium level in the blood (e.g. amiloride, triamterene).
• You may have kidney or liver disease or suffer from allergies or have previously had an allergy after taking similar medicines.
• Taking other medications may affect blood clotting.
• The doctor may ask for a blood test for several weeks after the end of the heparin treatment. This is so the doctor checks the level of the clotting cells (platelets) in the blood.
• The doctor will check your blood if you receive treatment for longer than five days and may do other blood tests if you have major surgery.
• You have been on epidural anaesthesia (given into the spine).
• You may have signs of tingling, weakness or numbness in your lower legs or body, back pain or problems in passing urine.
• You must remind the doctor that you are on heparin before you receive an anaesthetic.

How Does It Work?

Interactions with other medicines

• Pain killers, analgesics and anti-inflammatory medicines like aspirin, ketorolac and intravenous diclofenac must be avoided while on treatment with the injection as the concomitant use may impose the risk of bleeding.
• Medicines that interfere with blood coagulation should be avoided. If you are not sure which are these medicines, ask the doctor or nurse.
• Other anticoagulants or antiplatelet medicines that are taken orally should be avoided while on treatment with the medicine.
• Antibiotics like cefaclor, cefixime and ceftriaxone may affect the coagulation process and impose the risk of bleeding hence the concomitant use should be avoided.
• Probenecid is used for the treatment of gout may increase the anticoagulant effect of the medicine.
• Potassium levels increase if you are taking certain antihypertensive medicines or aliskiren. This can be detected by a blood test, let your doctor know about the blood pressure-lowering medicine you are taking.