Heparin® is used to prevent blood clots from forming in in people who have certain medical conditions or who are undergoing certain medical procedures that increase the chance that clots will form. Heparin® is also used to stop the growth of clots that have already formed in the blood vessels, but it cannot be used to decrease the size of clots that have already formed. Heparin® is also used in small amounts to prevent blood clots from forming in catheters (small plastic tubes through which medication can be administered or blood drawn) that are left in veins over a period of time. Heparin® is in a class of medications called anticoagulants ('blood thinners'). It works by decreasing the clotting ability of the blood.
If you've taken Heparin®, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Call Walker & Walker Attorney Network at 1-800-THE-LAW2 (1-800-843-5292) for your free consultation. Or fill out the FREE CONSULTATION box on the left of this page now.
Brand Names:
Source: National Institute of Health and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc.,“Heparin Injection", The MedMaster™ Patient Drug Information Database, 2007, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a682826.html (27 Jun 2008)
Warnings:
As of 1/18/2008 AM2 PAT, Inc., notified healthcare professionals and patients of a nationwide recall of all lots of both Heparin and Normal Saline pre-filled flushes. These products are distributed under two brand names, Sierra Pre-Filled Inc and B. Braun. The products are sold in 3ml and 5ml sizes for Heparin and 3ml, 5ml, and 10ml sizes for Normal Saline. One lot of Heparin® IV flush syringes (1003-02, Lot 070926H) was contaminated with Serratia marcescens which has resulted in patient infections. This type of bacterial infection could present a serious adverse health consequence that could lead to life-threatening injuries and/or death.
User facilities and consumers should stop using the product immediately, quarantine remaining inventory, and return the product to their respective distributor. For a complete list of the recalled products, see the Recall Notice.
FDA Class 1 Recall: http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/recalls/recall-122007.html
Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “Class 1 Recall: AM2 PAT Inc. Pre-Filled Heparin Lock Flush Syringes and Normal Saline IV Flush Syringes (All Lots and All Sizes)", Center for Devices and Radiological Health, http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/recalls/recall-122007.html (27 Jun 2008)
For more information on drugs recently recalled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), please go to: US FDA: Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts.
Heparin® is a registered trademark of Baxter