Heparin is an injectable anticoagulant medication commonly given to prevent the formation of blood clots. Patients also receive heparin to decrease the clotting ability of blood during open-heart surgery, bypass surgery, blood transfusions and kidney dialysis, notes MayoClinic.com. Patients most commonly take heparin in a hospital or outpatient clinical setting.
Precautions
Patients should not take aspirin while using heparin. MayoClinic.com explains that many medications can contain aspirin as an ingredient so patients should check labels of both prescription and over-the-counter medications before use. Patients taking heparin may bruise or bleed easily and should alert physicians to any injury sustained while on heparin or shortly after taking heparin as there is a high potential for internal bleeding. People taking heparin should also alert any dentists or doctors of their use of the medication before any medical procedures.
Labs
People undergoing any anticoagulant therapy, including heparin, must have lab work done regularly to check how their blood is clotting. Three labs are used to monitor this therapy, including prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time and international normalized ratio. Lab Tests Online says that prothrombin time, or PT, evaluates the blood's ability to clot normally; physicians commonly use it in conjunction with the partial thromboplastin time, or PTT, to monitor the effectiveness of anticoagulant therapy. Physicians commonly use the international normalized ratio, or INR, to evaluate current therapy and determine the appropriate titration of the medication.
Side Effects
Side effects of heparin therapy commonly include redness, pain, bruising and sores at the injection site. There is a potential for serious side effects during heparin therapy including unusual bleeding or bruising; excessive fatigue; chest pain or pressure; sudden severe headaches; sudden loss of balance and coordination; black, bloody or tarry stools; blood in the urine; and vomit that has a coffee ground appearance or blood, states the National Institutes of Health. Patients should alert physicians if they experience any of these symptoms.
Clinics
Patients undergoing heparin therapy must be properly monitored for their safety. In some cities, patients have the option of using an anticoagulation clinic that allows patients to receive anticoagulation therapy out of a hospital or home setting. Anticoagulation clinics provide a safe and convenient alternative to hospital therapy. They also have the benefit of being able to add additional medications or treat serious complications immediately, says the Cleveland Clinic. In an anticoagulation clinic, patients will have a finger stick performed when they arrive at the clinic to assess their current INR level. A pharmacist can review the results at this same clinic visit and, if needed, make necessary changes to the patient's medications prior to therapy.
Considerations
Patients taking heparin should alert physicians of any medications they currently take as there is a high potential for drug interactions, notes MayoClinic.com. There is also the potential for interactions with foods such as avocado and ginger as well as herbal supplements such as curcumin, dong quai, green tea and vitamins such as vitamin A. Certain prior medical conditions may affect the effectiveness of this medication such as a bacterial heart infection, liver disease, major surgery or a low blood platelet count.
