IV Dilution &
Medication Reference

HEPARIN Sodium

Usual Diluents

Standard Dilutions [Amount of drug] [Infusion volume] [Infusion rate]

Loading dose:
Give IV-push or add to 50 ml D5W.

Stability / Miscellaneous

Cautions: active hemorrhage, acute CVA, History of thrombocytopenia, baseline labs: PT > 15 ; PTT >48; or Platelets < 100,000

Monitoring: PTT q6 to 8 hours following heparin therapy initiation or change in infusion until 2 consecutive therapeutic PTT levels are achieved at a consistent rate of infusion. Once the patient is stabilized, a PTT level should be checked qam. If a patient's PTT does not change significantly from baseline after 2 legitimate attempts to increase dose, consider heparin resistance (antithrombin III deficiency).

Baseline labs: PT, PTT, CBC (Hgb, Hct, platelet count). QOD labs: Hgb, Hct, Platelets.

Labwork requiring physician attention: (1) PTT > 100 sec (2) Platelet count < 100,000 or 40% decrease (3) INR > 3.5 (4) Hemoglobin decrease > 2 gm/dl.
Remember: The most significant factor in reducing recurrent thrombo-embolism is reaching a therapeutic PTT in < 24 hours.
Heparin induced thrombocytopenia: Consider changing to a direct thrombin inhibitor such as Lepirudin.

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DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION (Package insert)
Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit. Slight discoloration does not alter potency.

When heparin is added to an infusion solution for continuous intravenous administration, the container should be inverted at least six times to ensure adequate mixing and prevent pooling of the heparin in the solution.

Heparin sodium is not effective by oral administration and should be given by intermittent intravenous injection, intravenous infusion, or deep subcutaneous (intrafat, i.e., above the iliac crest or abdominal fat layer) injection. The intramuscular route of administration should be avoided because of the frequent occurrence of hematoma at the injection site.

The dosage of heparin sodium should be adjusted according to the patient's coagulation test results. When heparin is given by continuous intravenous infusion, the coagulation time should be determined approximately every 4 hours in the early stages of treatment. When the drug is administered intermittently by intravenous injection, coagulation tests should be performed before each injection during the early stages of treatment and at appropriate intervals thereafter. Dosage is considered adequate when the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) is 1.5 to 2 times normal or when the whole blood clotting time is elevated approximately 2.5 to 3 times the control value. After deep subcutaneous (intrafat) injections, tests for adequacy of dosage are best performed on samples drawn 4-6 hours after the injections.

Periodic platelet counts, hematocrits, and tests for occult blood in stool are recommended during the entire course of heparin therapy, regardless of the route of administration.

Heparin Sodium Injection should not be mixed with doxorubicin, droperidol, ciprofloxacin, or mitoxantrone, since it has been reported that these drugs are incompatible with heparin and a precipitate may form.

Converting to Oral Anticoagulant
When an oral anticoagulant of the coumarin or similar type is to be begun in patients already receiving heparin sodium, baseline and subsequent tests of prothrombin activity must be determined at a time when heparin activity is too low to affect the prothrombin time. This is about 5 hours after the last I.V. bolus and 24 hours after the last subcutaneous dose. If continuous I.V. heparin infusion is used, prothrombin time can usually be measured at any time.

In converting from heparin to an oral anticoagulant, the dose of the oral anticoagulant should be the usual initial amount and thereafter prothrombin time should be determined at the usual intervals. To ensure continuous anticoagulation, it is advisable to continue full heparin therapy for several days after the prothrombin time has reached the therapeutic range. Heparin therapy may then be discontinued without tapering.

Therapeutic Anticoagulant Effect with Full-Dose Heparin
Although dosage must be adjusted for the individual patient according to the results of suitable laboratory tests, the following dosage schedules may be used as guidelines:

Pediatric Use
Follow recommendations of appropriate pediatric reference texts. In general, the following dosage schedule may be used as a guideline:

Initial Dose: 50 units/kg (I.V., drip)

Maintenance Dose: 100 units/kg (I.V., drip) every four hours, or
20,000 units/M2/24 hours continuously

Geriatric Use
Patients over 60 years of age may require lower doses of heparin.

Surgery of the Heart and Blood Vessels
Patients undergoing total body perfusion for open-heart surgery should receive an initial dose of not less than 150 units of heparin sodium per kilogram of body weight. Frequently, a dose of 300 units per kilogram is used for procedures estimated to last less than 60 minutes or 400 units per kilogram for those estimated to last longer than 60 minutes.

Low-Dose Prophylaxis of Postoperative Thromboembolism
A number of well-controlled clinical trials have demonstrated that low-dose heparin prophylaxis, given just prior to and after surgery, will reduce the incidence of postoperative deep vein thrombosis in the legs (as measured by the I-125 fibrinogen technique and venography) and of clinical pulmonary embolism. The most widely used dosage has been 5,000 units 2 hours before surgery and 5,000 units every 8 to 12 hours thereafter for 7 days or until the patient is fully ambulatory, whichever is longer. The heparin is given by deep subcutaneous (intrafat, i.e., above the iliac crest or abdominal fat layer, arm or thigh) injection with a fine (25 to 26-gauge) needle to minimize tissue trauma. A concentrated solution of heparin sodium is recommended. Such prophylaxis should be reserved for patients over the age of 40 who are undergoing major surgery. Patients with bleeding disorders and those having brain or spinal cord surgery, spinal anesthesia, eye surgery, or potentially sanguineous operations should be excluded, as should patients receiving oral anticoagulants or platelet-active drugs (see package insert for WARNINGS). The value of such prophylaxis in hip surgery has not been established. The possibility of increased bleeding during surgery or postoperatively should be borne in mind. If such bleeding occurs, discontinuance of heparin and neutralization with protamine sulfate are advisable. If clinical evidence of thromboembolism develops despite low-dose prophylaxis, full therapeutic doses of anticoagulants should be given unless contraindicated. Prior to initiating heparinization the physician should rule out bleeding disorders by appropriate history and laboratory tests, and appropriate coagulation tests should be repeated just prior to surgery. Coagulation tests values should be normal or only slightly elevated at these times.

Extracorporeal Dialysis
Follow equipment manufacturers' operating directions carefully.

Blood Transfusion
Addition of 400 to 600 USP units per 100 mL of whole blood is usually employed to prevent coagulation. Usually, 7,500 USP units of heparin sodium are added to 100 mL of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP (or 75,000 USP units per 1,000 mL of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP) and mixed; from this sterile solution, 6 to 8 mL are added per 100 mL of whole blood.

Laboratory Samples
Addition of 70 to 150 units of heparin sodium per 10 to 20 mL sample of whole blood is usually employed to prevent coagulation of the sample. Leukocyte counts should be performed on heparinized blood within 2 hours after addition of the heparin. Heparinized blood should not be used for isoagglutinin, complement, or erythrocyte fragility tests or platelet counts.

HOW SUPPLIED
Heparin Sodium Injection, USP derived from beef lung is available in the following strengths and package sizes:
1,000 units per mL
10 mL vials NDC 0009-0268-01
25 × 10 mL vials NDC 0009-0268-12
30 mL vials NDC 0009-0268-02
5,000 units per mL
10 mL vials NDC 0009-0291-01
10,000 units per mL
25 × 1 mL vials NDC 0009-0317-10
4 mL vials NDC 0009-0317-02
25 × 4 mL vials NDC 0009-0317-11

Store the product at controlled room temperature 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F) [see USP].

Source: [package insert]