What is the most serious potential side effect of heparin therapy?
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Heparin is a drug that helps to prevent blood clots. A heparin infusion delivers heparin through an IV line in your vein. Side effects include bruising and unexpected bleeding. Show
What is heparin?Heparin is a drug that stops your blood from clotting or forming blood clots. It is also called an anticoagulant or a blood thinner. What is an infusion?Infusion is when a drug or type of therapy is given through a needle or catheter (thin, flexible tube) that is placed into your blood vessels. Veins are the most common type of blood vessels used. When a catheter is placed in a vein it is called an "IV line." When are you likely to have heparin infusion therapy?Heparin may be the first treatment you get if you have a venous thromboembolism (VTE), also known as a blood clot. Such clots can be serious. You might have a clot in a deep vein, like one in the leg or arm. This is called a deep vein thrombosis or DVT. If the DVT breaks loose from the wall of the vein and travels to the lungs, it is called a pulmonary embolism (PE). PEs can cut off some or all of the blood supply in the lungs. A blood clot could even travel to the brain, causing a stroke. This is why treatment is needed. You may also get heparin to prevent blood clots after procedures, surgeries, or injuries that keep you from being able to move around, such as joint replacement surgeries. Getting a heparin infusionThe drug heparin is sometimes given as an infusion through an IV line. It is important to have your blood drawn and tested to get the correct amount of heparin in your blood. Your medical team will check to see how well heparin is working with a test called the partial thromboplastin time (PTT). This test will let them know how long it takes for your blood to clot. They will adjust your heparin dosing and order your next PTT tests to ensure the heparin is working correctly Some infusion therapy is done in a hospital, but it is possible that you could have home infusion therapy. Your medical team will give you the information that you need if you are having infusion therapy at home or in the hospital. What should you remember about taking heparin?When you are taking heparin, be careful of any bruising or bleeding and report any concerns quickly to your medical team. If you get hurt when you are on a blood clot reducer, you can bleed too much. If you are in the hospital or other healthcare facility, please ask for help from an aide or nurse before getting out of bed. This will reduce the risk of falling. When should you call the doctor or nurse about heparin side effects?Call your doctor or notify your nurse if you are taking heparin and you have these side effects:
Also, you should talk with your healthcare provider or pharmacist before you start to use any new drugs, over the counter products, or supplements. Other drugs can change the way heparin works. Your dose of the blood clot reducer may get too weak or too strong if it reacts to another drug. Get useful, helpful and relevant health + wellness information
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Does heparin cause side effects?Heparin is an injectable anticoagulant used to stop the formation of blood clots. The blood coagulation system is composed of various steps and heparin acts at multiple sites in this process. Heparin prevents blood clots by blocking the action of 4 of the 12 clot-promoting proteins in blood (factors II, VII, IX, X) whose action is necessary for blood to clot. Brand names available for heparin include Hemochron, Hep-Lock, Hep-Lock U/P, Heparin in 5% Dextrose, Heparin Lock Flush, HepFlush-10. Common side effects of heparin include
Serious side effects of heparin include severe bleeding. Drug interactions of heparin include medications that increase the risk of bleeding such as aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin, other anticoagulants, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, and others, because these add to the effects of heparin and further increase the risk of bleeding that is associated with heparin. Heparin has not been adequately evaluated in pregnant women. Heparin should only be used during pregnancy if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Preservative-free heparin is recommended when heparin is needed during pregnancy. It is unknown if heparin is excreted into breast milk. Due to its large molecular weight, it is thought heparin is not likely to be excreted into breast milk. Preservative-free heparin is recommended when heparin is needed during breastfeeding. What are the important side effects of heparin?The most common side effects are hemorrhage (bleeding), thrombocytopenia (decrease platelet count), heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), heparin induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (HITT), injection site discomfort/irritation, allergy or hypersensitivity type reactions, and increase in liver enzymes. Heparin side effects list for healthcare professionalsHemorrhageHemorrhage is the chief complication that may result from heparin therapy. An overly prolonged clotting time or minor bleeding during therapy can usually be controlled by withdrawing the drug. It should be appreciated that gastrointestinal or urinary tract bleeding during anticoagulant therapy may indicate the presence of an underlying occult lesion. Bleeding can occur at any site but certain specific hemorrhagic complications may be difficult to detect:
HypersensitivityGeneralized hypersensitivity reactions have been reported with chills, fever, and urticaria as the most usual manifestations, and asthma, rhinitis, lacrimation, headache, nausea and vomiting and anaphylactoid reactions, including shock, occurring more rarely. Itching and burning, especially on the plantar site of the feet may occur. Thrombocytopenia has been reported to occur in patients receiving heparin with a reported incidence of 0 to 30%. While often mild and of no obvious clinical significance, such thrombocytopenia can be accompanied by severe thromboembolic complications such as
Certain episodes of painful, ischemic and cyanosed limbs have in the past been attributed to allergic vasospastic reactions. Whether these are in fact identical to the thrombocytopenia associated complications remains to be determined. Miscellaneous
What drugs interact with heparin?Oral anticoagulants
Platelet inhibitors
Other interactions
Drug/Laboratory Test InteractionsHyperaminotransferasemia
SummaryHeparin is an injectable anticoagulant used to stop the formation of blood clots. Common side effects of heparin include bleeding, low platelet count (thrombocytopenia), heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), heparin induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (HITT), injection site discomfort/irritation, allergy or hypersensitivity type reactions, and increased liver enzymes. Heparin has not been adequately evaluated in pregnant women. It is unknown if heparin is excreted into breast milk. Multimedia: Slideshows, Images & QuizzesRelated Disease Conditions
Treatment & DiagnosisMedications & SupplementsReport Problems to the Food and Drug AdministrationYou are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Medically Reviewed on 11/12/2020 References FDA Prescribing Information Professional side effects and drug interactions sections courtesy of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. What are some side effects of heparin?Advertisement. Abdominal or stomach pain or swelling.. back pain or backaches.. bleeding from the gums when brushing teeth.. blood in the urine.. coughing up blood.. headaches, severe or continuing.. heavy bleeding or oozing from cuts or wounds.. joint pain, stiffness, or swelling.. What complications are associated with heparin?Thrombocytopenia, bleeding events, and osteopenia are the 3 most common drug-related problems associated with heparin and LMWH therapy. These side effects often complicate treatment and increase the overall cost of care. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices has classified both UFH and LMWH as high-alert drugs.
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