Heparin Side Effects, Benefits, and How to Use It – Heparin is a medication used to treat and prevent blood clotting. This drug works by inhibiting the work of clotting factors, namely proteins in the body that play a role in the blood clotting process. Therefore, heparin is known as a blood thinning drug (anticoagulant).
Heparin Benefits
As one anticoagulant drug, heparin has several benefits, among others:
- Stop the formation of blood clots in blood vessels. However, heparin cannot be used to reduce the size of the blood clot.
- Prevent blood clotting in people with atrial fibrillation.
- Prevents blood clots that may occur during a medical procedure or certain conditions, such as after the surgical procedure, during dialysis, during blood transfusions, when collecting blood samples, or when the patient cannot move in the term A long time (immobilization).
- Prevents blood clots that may be formed in a catheter that is inserted into the blood vessels over a certain period of time, such as the central venous catheter in the veins around the neck or thighs.
How to use Heparin.
Heparin is injected under the skin or into the blood vessels through an infusion. You may be given instructions on how to use the IV at home.
Do not inject Heparin yourself if you do not fully understand how to give injections and remove needles that have been used properly, IV tubes, and other items used to inject the drug.
Do not use Heparin injections if the color has changed or has particles in it. Contact your doctor for new recipes.
You may switch from injectable Heparin to oral (drunk) to blood thinners. Do not stop using this drug until your doctor tells you to quit. You may use both forms of injectable Heparin and Heparin oral for a short time.
Follow the rules given by your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment. If you have any questions, consult with your doctor or pharmacist.
Heparin Side Effects.
The heparin heart disease drug has some side effects that you need to know. Some of Heparin side effects are:
- Bleeding: Heparin works to dilute the blood, consequently the body will be more susceptible to bleeding. In the event of continuous, the dose of heparin should be stopped immediately and given antidote that is protamine sulfate.
- May trigger allergic reactions and anaphylactic shock
- Osteoporosis: occurred in 30% of patients who were dosed long term heparin. Heparin can accelerate the process of bone deterioration.
- Increase the liver transaminases enzyme
- Thrombocytopenia (Heparin – induced thrombocytopenia / HIT)
Why can heparin cause thrombocytopenia?
Thrombocytopenia is a side effect of the heart disease heparin drug which that are unique. Thrombocytopenia occurs due to lack of platelet, blood cells that play an important role in the blood clotting process. Generally decreased platelet count will increase the risk of bleeding. That’s why common symptoms of thrombocytopenia include easy nosebleeds, and bruises, long-cured wounds, and severe menstrual bleeding.
However, when a specific thrombocytopenia is triggered by the use of heparin, or HIT, the risk of thrombosis or blood vessel blockage is precisely greater than bleeding. In fact, the decline of platelets in the HIT rarely reaches 20,000/ul. This is influenced by the fact that HIT occurs due to the body’s antibodies to the Heparin-PF4 complex.
In the body, the heparin will bind specific protein platelet factor 4 (PF4). This complex will be recognized by antibodies.
Then after binds with the Heparin-PF4 compound, the antibodies will bind to the receptors on the platelets, causing the activation of platelets. Activation of these platelets will result in the formation of blood vessel obstruction. Simply put, heparin that should work inhibits blood clotting, in some people it turns out the opposite: triggers platelet activation so the blood freezes and clogs the blood vessels.
Read also: Mitral valve stenosis: Definition, Causes, Symptoms, and Therapy.
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