This article describes possible side effects of heparin injection. You can explore this overview article to learn more about heparin, including the drug’s uses, side effects, ways to save on cost, and more.
Heparin injection is a generic medication. It isn’t available in a brand-name version.
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More common side effects of heparin
Heparin injection may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.
Commonly reported side effects of heparin injection include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of heparin in detail” section below.
Mild side effects of heparin
Heparin may cause certain mild side effects. Typically, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.
Mild side effects of heparin injection that occurred in studies include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of heparin in detail” section below.
Heparin injection may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.
Serious side effects of heparin
Heparin may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from heparin injection, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with heparin.
Serious side effects of heparin injection that occurred in studies include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of heparin in detail” section below.
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Common questions about side effects of heparin
Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of heparin injection. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
How long do side effects of heparin usually last?
Heparin injection’s mild side effects are usually temporary. But some of heparin’s mild side effects, such as easy bruising or bleeding, may last for as long as you’re using heparin. Once you stop using heparin, these mild side effects should go away within a few weeks.
If you’re concerned about heparin’s side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. For bleeding that isn’t stopping, get medical care right away.
Is heparin safe for older adults?
Yes, heparin injection is generally safe for use in older adults. But adults ages 60 years and older may have a higher risk of bleeding with heparin compared to younger adults.
Because of this, doctors typically prescribe a lower dose of heparin to older adults. Your doctor will also monitor how well heparin is working and adjust your dosage if necessary.
If you have concerns about using heparin given your age, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Does heparin cause long-term side effects?
Yes, in some cases heparin injection may cause long-term side effects. These can occur if you take the drug for a long time or last for a while after you’ve stopped taking the drug.
An example of long-term side effects reported with heparin injection is HIT. To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of heparin in detail” section below.
Talk with your doctor to learn more about long-term side effects and how to manage them. Ask your doctor for more information about how long the side effects of heparin may last.
Side effects of heparin in detail
Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of heparin injection.
Bruising or bleeding more easily than usual
People using heparin injection have reported bruising or bleeding more easily than usual. This side effect is common and is typically mild, but may be serious.
With bruising or bleeding that happens more easily than usual, bleeding may take longer to stop. It can also cause very serious or severe bleeding that is life threatening. Life threatening bleeding has happened to people using heparin injection, but this is rare.
Symptoms of mild bleeding may include bleeding gums or frequent nosebleeds. More serious bleeding symptoms may include:
- bloody, pink, or brown urine
- bloody or dark, tarry stool
- coughing up blood or blood clots
- very heavy menstrual bleeding
- vomiting blood or dark, coffee ground-like material
- weakness or dizziness
Being age 60 years or older can increase the risk of bleeding with heparin injection.
Ways to manage
If you experience mild problems with easy bruising or bleeding, tell your doctor. If you have any symptoms of serious bleeding, tell your doctor and get medical care right away.
Injection site reactions
Injection site reactions were commonly reported in people using heparin injection. This side effect is usually mild, but may be serious in some cases.
With injections site reactions, you have skin reactions where the heparin injection is given. Symptoms may include:
- bruising
- irritation
- mild pain
- redness or discoloration
- sores or ulcers
Ways to manage
If you experience symptoms of an injection site reaction, tell your doctor. They can suggest ways to manage your symptoms. Tell your doctor right away if sores or ulcers occur in the area where you inject heparin.
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)
HIT was reported in people using heparin injection. This side effect may be serious or even life threatening. HIT can occur during treatment with heparin injection and up to several weeks after stopping treatment.
With HIT, you can have low platelet levels and platelets that stick together to form new or worsening blood clots. This can lead to serious problems including:
Some symptoms of new or worsening blood clots include:
- chest pain
- coughing up blood
- redness or discoloration, pain, or swelling in an arm or leg
- shortness of breath
- severe belly pain, nausea, or vomiting
- sudden problems talking or understanding speech
- sudden weakness on one side of the body or face
Ways to manage
If you experience symptoms of a new or worsening blood clot, tell your doctor and get medical help right away. During treatment with heparin, your doctor may monitor your platelet level using blood tests.
If this test shows your platelets are below a certain level, your doctor will stop your heparin treatment. They may also order additional tests to check for HIT, as well as prescribe treatments for your condition.
For some people, heparin injection can cause an allergic reaction.
Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:
- itchiness
- skin rash
- swelling under the skin, typically affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to heparin injection, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
Warnings for heparin
Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking heparin injection.
Warnings
It may not be safe for you to take heparin injection if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether heparin injection is a safe treatment option for you.
Before taking heparin injection, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:
Heparin and pregnancy
It’s not known whether heparin injection should be used during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before using this medication.
Heparin and breastfeeding
In general, heparin injection is considered safe to use while breastfeeding. That said, check with your doctor about whether they feel it’s safe for you specifically. If you use heparin injection while breastfeeding, you’ll need a preservative-free version.
Heparin injection isn’t known to interact with alcohol.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with heparin injection.
What to ask your doctor
This article describes common and serious side effects of heparin injection. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- How do the side effects of heparin injection compare with other drugs that could treat my condition?
- Do I have a higher risk of side effects than other people?
- Does my risk of side effects depend on the dosage of heparin injection?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
