Heparin: What are symptoms? What are serious adverse reactions?

Serious reactions to the drug have included difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, excessive sweating, and rapidly falling blood pressure that can lead to life-threatening shock. Four people have died after receiving heparin, although the relationship to the drug is unclear.

Heparin is commonly used before certain types of surgery, including coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), and in kidney patients before they undergo dialysis. In some situations, heparin treatment is initiated using a high bolus dose injected directly into the bloodstream (intravenously) over a short period of time, usually less than one hour.

The reported adverse events occurred in patients who were given injectable heparin.

Reported adverse events or symptoms include:

abdominal pain decreased blood pressure burning sensation chest pain diarrhea dizziness drug ineffectiveness dyspepsia dyspnea erythema flushing headache

hyperhidrosis hypoesthesia hypotension increased lacrimation loss of consciousness malaise nausea pallor palpitations

paresthesia pharyngeal edema restlessness vomiting/retching stomach discomfort tachycardia thirst trismus unresponsiveness to stimuli

Healthcare professionals seem to be caught between a rock and a hard place. They are asked to avoid administering bolus doses of heparin if possible; to be aware of the increased potential for adverse drug reactions to occur, including profound and refractory hypotension (abnormally low blood pressure); and to be advised to implement measures that allow prompt identification and treatment of the signs and/or symptoms of adverse reactions should profound and/or refractory hypotension may occur, particularly with higher doses or infusion rates of intravenous heparin.

Frequent monitoring of vital signs and resuscitative therapy should be present and available throughout heparin administration.

Contact Anapol Schwartz law firm if you or a loved one has suffered serious adverse reactions or death from bolus doses of heparin.