How long does heparin stay in your system

Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:. Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible side effects.

This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always discuss possible side effects with a healthcare provider who knows your medical history.

Heparin injectable solution can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works.

This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well. To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Taking heparin with certain drugs can increase your risk of bleeding and make you bruise more easily. Examples of these drugs include:. When used with heparin, certain drugs can make heparin less effective. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions.

Always speak with your healthcare provider about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking.

Heparin is derived from animal tissue. It should be used with caution in people with a history of allergy to this drug or to pig proteins. Taking heparin could be fatal cause death. For people with pig protein sensitivity: Do not take this drug.

This drug is made from pork tissue and can cause a life-threatening allergic reaction in people who are sensitive or allergic to other pig proteins. For people with uncontrolled high blood pressure: You are at an increased risk of bleeding from this drug.

Talk to your doctor before using heparin. For people with bleeding or clotting problems: If you have abnormal bleeding or a condition that puts you at an increased risk of bleeding, using heparin could increase your risk even more.

Use heparin with caution. For people with a history of stomach ulcers or bleeding: If you have active stomach ulcers, you should not use heparin. It could make your ulcers worse and cause dangerous bleeding. You should talk to your doctor before using heparin. For people with kidney disease: If you have severe kidney disease or a history of kidney disease, taking heparin can increase your risk of bleeding.

For people with liver disease: If you have severe liver disease or a history of liver disease, taking heparin can increase your risk of bleeding. For people with asthma or sulfite sensitivity: People with asthma are likely to be sensitive to sulfites.

Sulfites can cause a life-threatening allergic reaction in some people. Some forms of this drug contain sulfites. Talk to your doctor about using a sulfite-free version of heparin. For pregnant women: Research in animals has shown negative effects to the fetus when the mother uses heparin. This drug should only be used if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk. Ask your doctor if using the preservative-free version of heparin would be better for you than the version that contains benzyl alcohol.

For women who are breastfeeding: Heparin is unlikely to pass into breast milk and be absorbed by an infant who is breastfed. Some forms of heparin contain a preservative called benzyl alcohol. This ingredient can slow down the central nervous system in some infants. It has also caused trouble breathing and changes in the blood chemistry in some infants.

These effects can be deadly. If you breastfeed your child, talk to your doctor about preservative-free heparin. For seniors: If you are older than 60 years, you may be at a higher risk of bleeding. Heparin also increases your risk of bleeding, so your doctor may start you on a reduced dosage.

For children: This medication has not been studied in children. Dosage recommendations are based on clinical experience. Newborns and infants should receive preservative-free heparin.

Heparin should not be injected into a muscle. Heparin is sometimes injected one to six times a day and sometimes given as a slow, continuous injection into the vein. When heparin is used to prevent blood clots from forming in intravenous catheters, it is usually used when the catheter is first put in place, and every time that blood is drawn out of the catheter or medication is given through the catheter.

Heparin may be given to you by a nurse or other healthcare provider, or you may be told to inject the medication by yourself at home. If you will be injecting heparin yourself, a healthcare provider will show you how to inject the medication. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist if you do not understand these directions or have any questions about where on your body you should inject heparin, how to give the injection, or how to dispose of used needles and syringes after you inject the medication.

If you will be injecting heparin yourself, follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use heparin exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Heparin solution comes in different strengths, and using the wrong strength may cause serious problems. Before giving an injection of heparin, check the package label to make sure it is the strength of heparin solution that your doctor prescribed for you.

If the strength of heparin is not correct do not use the heparin and call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Your doctor may increase or decrease your dose during your heparin treatment. If you will be injecting heparin yourself, be sure you know how much medication you should use.

Heparin is also sometimes used alone or in combination with aspirin to prevent pregnancy loss and other problems in pregnant women who have certain medical conditions and who have experienced these problems in their earlier pregnancies.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the risks of using this medication to treat your condition. This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

If you will be injecting heparin yourself at home, talk to your doctor about what you should do if you forget to inject a dose. Heparin may cause osteoporosis condition in which the bones become weak and may break easily , especially in people who use the medication for a long time. Talk to your doctor about the risks of using this medication. Heparin may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.

If you will be injecting heparin at home, your healthcare provider will tell you how to store the medication. Follow these directions carefully.

Be sure to keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.

Do not double doses. Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing. Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through.

Keep this container away from children and pets. It is very important that your doctor check you at regular visits after you leave the hospital for any problems or unwanted effects that may be caused by this medicine. If you are using the medicine at home, blood tests will be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Be sure to keep all appointments. Do not take aspirin, ibuprofen, or other anti-inflammatory medicines eg, NSAIDs while you are using heparin. Many nonprescription over-the-counter [OTC] medicines and some prescription medicines contain these ingredients. Check the labels of all medicines you take. There are many other medicines that may change the way heparin works or increase the chance of bleeding if they are used together with heparin. It is best to check with your doctor before taking any other medicine while you are using heparin.

You may bleed and bruise more easily while you are using this medicine. Stay away from rough sports or other situations where you could be bruised, cut, or injured. Tell your doctor about any falls, blows to the body or head, or other injuries, since serious bleeding may occur inside the body with this medicine. Be careful when using sharp objects, including razors and fingernail clippers.

Avoid picking your nose. If you need to blow your nose, blow it gently. Check with your doctor right away if you notice any unusual bleeding or bruising; black, tarry stools; blood in the urine or stools; or pinpoint red spots on your skin.

Be careful when using a regular toothbrush, dental floss, or toothpick. Your medical doctor, dentist, or nurse may recommend other ways to clean your teeth and gums. Check with your medical doctor before having any dental work done. This medicine may cause a serious type of allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor right away if you have a rash; itching; swelling of the face, tongue, and throat; trouble breathing; or chest pain after you receive this medicine.

This medicine may cause new blood clots to form in some people while they are receiving the medicine or after it is stopped. Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away if you have pain in the chest, groin, or legs, especially the calves; difficulty with breathing; a sudden, severe headache; slurred speech; a sudden, unexplained shortness of breath; a sudden loss of coordination; or vision changes while using this medicine.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine several days before having surgery or medical tests.