Patient leaflet - Heparin Sodium 10 IU/ml I.V. Flush solution
1. WHAT HEPARIN FLUSH IS AND WHAT IT
IS USED FOR
Heparin flush belongs to a group of medicines
called anticoagulants. It helps to stop the blood
from clotting.
Heparin flush is given into an intravenous (I.V.) line.
This means it is injected into the tube connected to a
vein to keep it clear by preventing the blood from
clotting in it. It is not recommended for treatment of
harmful blood clots in your body.
2. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU ARE GIVEN HEPARIN FLUSH
Do not have Heparin flush
- If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to heparin or any
of the other ingredients of this medicine. You can
find a list of these ingredients in section 6 of this
leaflet.
- If you know that you have, or have ever had, a big
drop in the clotting cells (platelets) in your blood
(thrombocytopenia).
- If you are about to be treated for pain and
inflammation with intravenous diclofenac
Take special care with Heparin flush
Before you have Heparin flush, tell your doctor:
If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to low
molecular weight heparins, such as tinzaparin, enoxaparin or dalteparin.
If you have Heparin flush regularly for more than five days, your doctor may take regular blood tests. This is to check the level of platelets (a type of cell) in your blood while you have your medicine. Depending on the result the doctor may tell you to stop having this medicine straight away.
Also your doctor may take a blood test up to several weeks after the end of your heparin treatment. Again, this is so the doctor can check the level of the platelets in your blood.
Taking other medicines
Please tell your doctor or nurse if you are taking, or have recently taken any other medicines. This includes any medicines which you have bought without a prescription.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or might be pregnant, tell your doctor before you are given Heparin flush. If you become pregnant while having this medicine, tell your doctor.
If you are breast-feeding, ask your doctor for advice before having Heparin flush.
If you have any doubts about whether Heparin flush should be used for you then discuss things more fully with your doctor or nurse.
Driving and using machines
Usually your medicine may have little effect on your ability to drive or use machines. However, you should check with your doctor if you feel any side effect that may stop you from driving or using machines.
Important information about some of the ingredients of Heparin flush
This medicine contains:
Sodium. This medicine is nearly “sodium free”. Your medicine contains less than 23 milligrams (mg) of sodium in each 10 International Units (IU) dose. Please ask your doctor if you are worried about any of the ingredients in this medicine.
3. HOW HEPARIN FLUSH IS GIVEN
Heparin flush will be given to you by a doctor or nurse. Heparin flush should not be mixed with any other injection.
The recommended dose of Heparin Flush is
For routine use, 1-5 ml (10-50 IU heparin) should be administered into the catheter/cannula every 4 to 8 hours or as required. Your doctor will prescribe the right dose for you.
If you received more Heparin than you should:
You may start to haemorrhage (bleed severely). Please read section 4 so you can spot any signs this may be happening to you.
You may be given another injection of a medicine called protamine sulphate.
If you have any further questions about taking this medicine, please ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
When used as recommended the low dose of heparin reaching the blood is unlikely to have any effects on the body. However, information is given here on possible side effects.
Important side effects to look out for include:
You must get urgent medical help if you have any of the following symptoms. You may be having an allergic reaction:
- You have difficulty breathing, wheezing
- Your face or throat swell
- Your skin develops a severe rash
- Hives
- Fever, chills
- Swelling of eyes and lips
- You develop blue tinge to the lips
You should tell your doctor straight away if you spot any of the following signs which mean you may be starting to bleed severely:
- Red or brown urine
Black tarry stools
- Unusual bruising
- Bleeding from your nose, mouth or any operation wound that will not stop
Reduction in the number of cells that help your blood clot (thrombocytopenia)
Thrombocytopenia may result in the formation of dangerous blood clots causing chest pains, shortness of breath, coughing, feeling faint, dizziness or loss of consciousness.
You must tell your doctor or nurse immediately. If thrombocytopenia develops, heparin treatment should be stopped immediately.
Thrombocytopenia can occur up to several weeks after the end of your heparin treatment. As such, your doctor may take a blood test in that time. Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. HOW TO STORE HEPARIN FLUSH
- Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
- Do not use Heparin flush after the expiry date on the label. The expiry date is the last day of that month. Once opened, any of the solution not used at once should be discarded.
- Store below 25°C.
Medicines should not be thrown away in waste water or in household waste. Please ask your pharmacist how to throw away any medicine you do not need anymore. If you do this you will help protect the environment.
6. CONTENTS OF THE PACK AND OTHER INFORMATION
What Heparin flush contains
- The active ingredient is heparin sodium. This product contains 10 IU of heparin sodium in each millilitre (ml).
- The other ingredients are sodium chloride and water for injections RJAP107FUH PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER Heparin sodium 10 IU/ml I.V. flush solution
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
- If any of the side effects become serious, or you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
- If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
You can find important information about some of the ingredients near the end of section 2, just before section 3.
What Heparin flush looks like and contents of the pack
Heparin flush is a clear, colourless or pale yellow liquid. This medicine comes in glass ampoules containing 5 ml. There are 10 ampoules in a carton. Marketing Authorisation Holder:
Kent Pharma UK Limited, 2nd Floor,
Connect 38, 1 Dover Place, Ashford,
Kent, England, TN23 1FB.
Manufacturer responsible for batch release:
Laboratorio Reig Jofre, S.A Calle Gran Capitan, 10 08970 Sant Joan Despi Barcelona - Spain
This leaflet was last revised in April 2024.
RJAP107FUH