- Treatment of mild-moderate pulmonary embolism, unstable angina and acute peripheral arterial occlusion:
- IV Loading dose 5000 units OR 75 units/kg then continuous IV infusion of 18 units/kg/hour
- Treatment of severe pulmonary embolism:
- IV Loading dose 10,000 units then continuous IV infusion of 18 units/kg/hour
- Treatment of deep-vein thrombosis:
- IV Loading dose 5000 units OR 75 units/kg then continuous IV infusion of 18 units/kg/hour OR SC 15,000 units BD
- Thromboprophylaxis in medical patients:
- Adult: SC 5,000 units BD/TDS
- Child: IV 100 units/kg/dose x1
- Thromboprophylaxis during pregnancy:
- SC 5000-10,000 units BD with close monitoring
- Hemodialysis:
- IV: Initially 1000-5000 units, then continuous IV infusion of 250-1000 units/hour
- To maintain patency of catheters, cannulas and other indwelling IV infusion devices:
- 10-200 units to be flushed through device every 4–8 hours
- Not for therapeutic use
Injection:
- 5,000 i.u
- 25,000 i.u
Gel: 1000 i.u.
- Discontinue if platelets <100,000
- IV injection may be given undiluted or diluted in 50-100mL NS or D5W
- Continuous IV therapy is preferred because intermittent IV therapy may produce a higher incidence of bleeding abnormalities
Parenteral anticoagulant
Derived from bovine lung tissue or porcine intestinal mucosa
It interacts with antithrombin III heparin cofactor causing the neutralization of thrombin by forming a complex with its active serine center
- Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
- Hemorrhage
- Prolonged clotting time
- Local injection site reaction
- Hypersensitivity reactions
- Urticaria
- Fever
- Elevated AST/ALT
- Severe thrombocytopenia
- Excessive bleeding disorders
- Hypersensitivity to drug or pork products
- IM administration
- Long-term use esp in pediatric patients
- Mifepristone
- Defibrotide
Drug Status
| Availability | Prescription only |
| Pregnancy | Can be used but NOT benzyl-alcohol containing forms |
| Breastfeeding | Can be used but NOT benzyl-alcohol containing forms |
| Schedule | Not controlled |
| BRAND NAME | STRENGTH | FORMULATION | PACK SIZE | MANUFACTURER | DISTRIBUTOR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruhep | 25,000 IU/5mL | Injection | 1’s | Brawn Labs | Sai Pharma |
| Celparin | 25,000 IU/5mL | Injection | 1’s | Celon Labs | Europa Healthcare |
| Hepa | 5,000 IU/mL | Injection | 5mL | Synermed Pharma | Synermed Pharma |
| Heparin | 1,000 IU/mL | Injection | 5mL | Wockhardt Ltd | Phillips Therapeutics |
| Heparin | 5,000 IU/mL | Injection | 5mL | Wockhardt Ltd | Phillips Therapeutics |
| Heparin | 5,000 IU/mL | Injection | 5mL | Galaxy Pharma | Galaxy Pharma |
| Heparin Sodium Fresenius | 5,000 IU/mL | Injection | 5mL*10’s | Fresenius Kabi | Surgipharm Ltd |
| Heparine | 5,000 IU/mL | Injection | 5mL*25’s | Rotexmedica GMBH | Nairobi Pharma |
| Lioton | 1,000 IU/g | Gel | 30g | Menarini International | Phillips Therapeutics |
| Medihep | 5,000 IU/mL | Injection | 5mL*10’s | Medisel Kenya | Medisel Kenya |
| Niparin | 5,000 IU/mL | Injection | 5mL | Nipro JMI | Avacare Kenya |
| Racil | 5,000 IU/mL | Injection | 5mL | Crown Healthcare | Crown Healthcare |