💉 Heparin Injection 5000 IU/mL
🔹 1. Prescription / Indication:
Heparin 5000 IU/mL is used for both treatment and prevention of blood clots, particularly in hospital settings:
✅ Indications include:
- Prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism (VTE), especially in:
- Bedridden or post-operative patients
- Patients at risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE)
- Treatment of active thrombosis, such as:
- DVT/PE
- Arterial embolism
- Acute coronary syndrome (e.g. unstable angina, myocardial infarction)
- Anticoagulation during:
- Hemodialysis
- Cardiac or vascular surgery
- Blood transfusion or ECMO circuits
- Catheter maintenance (less common at this high concentration)
🔹 2. Description:
- Form: Injectable solution
- Strength: 5000 International Units (IU) per 1 mL
- Appearance: Clear, colorless or pale yellow sterile liquid
- Administration:
- Subcutaneous (SC) for prophylaxis
- Intravenous (IV) as bolus or infusion for treatment
🔹 3. Advantages:
- Fast onset of anticoagulant action (especially IV)
- Easily adjustable dosing based on lab monitoring (aPTT)
- Short half-life — effects wear off quickly after stopping
- Reversible with protamine sulfate
- Well-established use in critical care, surgery, and cardiology
🔹 4. Nature / Pharmacological Class:
- Class: Anticoagulant
- Type: Unfractionated Heparin (UFH)
- Mechanism of Action:
- Binds to antithrombin III, inactivating thrombin (Factor IIa) and Factor Xa
- Prevents conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin, stopping clot formation
🔹 5. Common Packaging:
- Ampoules or vials containing:
- 1 mL (5000 IU)
- 5 mL (25,000 IU)
- 10 mL (50,000 IU)
- Multi-dose vials often used in hospital settings
- May be available in prefilled syringes for SC use
Common brands: Heparin Sodium Injection, Hepamed, Throm-Heparin, Leo Heparin
🔹 6. Storage:
- Store at 15–25°C (59–77°F)
- Do not freeze
- Keep in original container, protected from light
- Use sterile technique for multi-dose vials
- Discard if solution becomes discolored or cloudy
🔹 7. Patient Advice / Counseling Points:
- Only to be used under medical supervision
- Frequent monitoring of aPTT is required for IV infusions
- Do not massage injection site after SC use (may cause bruising)
- Avoid NSAIDs, aspirin, or other anticoagulants unless directed
- Report immediately:
- Any unusual bleeding (gums, urine, stool, wounds)
- Easy bruising or nosebleeds
- Signs of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT): sudden drop in platelets, new clots, or skin changes
- Inform all doctors/dentists you are on heparin
🔹 8. Purpose / Use:
- Prevent and treat thromboembolic disorders
- Used during:
- Heart surgeries
- Dialysis
- Central line patency maintenance
- Short-term anticoagulation when oral anticoagulants are not suitable or during bridging