About heparin sodium
Anticoagulant; unfractionated heparin
Used for
- Prevention and treatment of blood clots
- Treatment of pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis
- Prevention of clotting during surgery or dialysis
Usual adult dose
Varies by purpose and route; prevention commonly uses 5,000 units under the skin every 8–12 hours. Treatment requires weight-based dosing and monitoring.
Usual dose in children
Weight-based dosing for treatment or prevention; specialist supervision and blood-test monitoring are required.
Common side effects
- Bleeding or bruising
- Low platelet count, sometimes with increased clotting risk
- Injection-site irritation
- Raised potassium levels
Important warnings
- Can cause serious bleeding; dosing requires careful monitoring.
- Avoid intramuscular injection because it can cause bleeding into muscle.
- Heparin-induced low platelets can cause dangerous blood clots.
- Use caution with kidney or liver disease, bleeding disorders, or recent surgery.
Pregnancy
Often used when anticoagulation is needed in pregnancy because it does not cross the placenta; specialist oversight is required.
Breastfeeding
Generally considered compatible with breastfeeding because it passes poorly into breast milk.
Interactions
- Other anticoagulants and antiplatelet medicines increase bleeding risk.
- NSAIDs, including ibuprofen and naproxen, increase bleeding risk.
- Some antibiotics and other medicines can alter heparin effects or bleeding risk.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.