Heparin, Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: anticoagulant

Generic and brand names: heparin calcium, injection; heparin sodium and 0.45% sodium chloride, injection; heparin sodium and 0.9% sodium chloride, injection; heparin sodium, injection; Calciparine; Hep-Lock; Hep-Lock U/P; Heparin Lock Flush; Liquaemin Sodium; Liquaemin Sodium Preservative-Free

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection to treat or prevent:

• blood clots in arms or legs (deep vein thrombosis)
• blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolism)
• blood-clotting complications of surgery.

It may be used to reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke. It may also be prescribed for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.

What should my health care provider know before I take this medicine?

Tell your health care provider if you have:

• a history of bleeding problems
• an allergic reaction to any medicine, beef, or pork products
• colitis
• recently had radiation treatments
• recently had brain, spinal, or eye surgery
• recently had a stroke or an ulcer
• eye problems due to diabetes
• kidney or liver problems
• high blood pressure

Females of childbearing age: Do not take this medicine unless you tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your health care provider's approval.

How do I use it?

This medicine is usually given as injections (shots) by your health care provider in the hospital. Sometimes you can give yourself these shots or have someone at home give them to you. The shots should not be given into a muscle, but under the skin. Be sure you know how and when to have shots and how much medicine to use.

Use sterile, disposable syringes and needles. Use each syringe and needle only once and dispose of them safely, following your health care provider's instructions. Carefully read and follow the directions that come in the package of medicine for preparing the shots. Wash your hands before using this medicine. Follow these steps to give yourself the shots:

1. Your health care provider will tell you where you can give yourself the shots (abdomen, thigh, upper arm, or other sites). If you are giving the shot in your abdomen, choose a site around the belly button but not in the belly button. Each day, choose a different spot for the shot to lessen irritation.
2. Use an alcohol swab to clean the skin where you will give yourself the shot.
3. Gently pinch up the skin and insert the needle into the skin at a 45° angle. After you insert the needle completely, release your grasp of the skin.
4. Inject all of the solution by gently and steadily pushing down the plunger.
5. After you have given yourself the shot, withdraw the needle and syringe and press an alcohol swab on the spot where the shot was given.
6. Discard the syringe, needle, and drug vial. Use the syringes and needles ONLY ONCE. Throw them away after use. Put used needles in rigid puncture-resistant containers with lids or caps, such as heavy plastic bleach bottles with screw caps. DO NOT throw needles directly into garbage cans or dumpsters.

If you are not sure of how to give yourself the shots, ask your health care provider or pharmacist for help.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do, or if you miss a dose, contact your health care provider.

What should I watch out for?

Bleeding is the most common side effect. You will need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests. Your health care provider will watch for side effects and be able to treat emergencies if they happen.

Tell any health care providers or dentists who treat you that you are receiving this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your health care provider right away. If you cannot reach your health care provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): Unusual bleeding or bruising; vomiting blood or something that looks like coffee grounds; black, tarry stools; red or brown urine; unexplained pain or swelling in chest, abdomen, joints, or muscles; leg numbness or weakness.

Other: Bleeding gums, nosebleed, heavy menstrual bleeding, heavy bleeding from a cut, pain or redness at the spot where shots are given.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking:

• antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), loratadine (Claritin), and fexofenadine (Allegra)
• antiplatelet medicines such as abciximab (ReoPro), eptifibatide (Integrelin), and tirofiban (Aggrastat)
• aspirin
• dipyridamole (Persantine)
• digoxin (Lanoxin) and digitoxin (Crystodigin)
• hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil)
• indomethacin (Indocin)
• ketoprofen (Orudis)
• naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve)
• nicotine in products such as Nicorette, Nicoderm, Nicotrol, Habitrol, ProStep, and Nicoderm-CQ
• penicillin in high doses
• piroxicam (Feldene)
• tetracyclines such as tetracycline hydrochloride (Achromycin, Sumycin), demeclocycline (Declomycin), doxycycline (Vibramycin, Doryx), minocycline (Minocin), and oxytetracycline (Terramycin)
• ticlopidine (Ticlid).

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.