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Heparin Side Effects

Heparin side effects are at the center of an early 2008 recall and an FDA health warning. As an anticoagulant drug, heparin helps prevent blood clotting and is widely used for:

  • atrial fibrillation
  • arterial and cardiac surgery
  • peripheral arterial embolisms
  • dialysis procedures
  • pulmonary embolisms

However, in light of the November 2007 heparin misdosing of twin infants at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the suspicions that some of the heparin in use today is contaminated, it's important that physicians and patients be aware of the possible side effects of heparin. 

Side Effects Reported to FDA

A number of heparin-related side effects/adverse reactions have been reported to the FDA and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) in the past year or so, some due to contaminated heparin:

  • sudden drop in blood pressure
  • swelling around the mouth
  • severe vomiting and nausea
  • sweating
  • difficulty breathing

In February 2008, the FDA issued a Public Health Advisory regarding the hundreds of reports of these heparin-related side effects, including a number of deaths.

About Heparin

Heparin was discovered in the early 1900s. It is made naturally by a few specific types of cells that can be obtained from mammals (including humans). After the first clinical testing of heparin in the 1930s, its use increased steadily, and today it is a very commonly used medication. 

Heparin is usually injected or infused in a hospital or other healthcare facility. Low-dose heparin kits are also prescribed for some patients to use at home. Some of the more commonly known side effects of heparin include:

  • hemorrhage
  • hematoma
  • hypersensitivity reactions
  • chills
  • fever
  • asthma
  • headache
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • shock
  • itching and burning

If you have experienced a severe side effect associated with heparin use, learn more about your eligibility to recover compensation for your losses. Contact us to speak with an experienced attorney today.

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