2. What should I know before being given HEPARIN SODIUM?
Do not start treatment if you have ever had an allergic reaction to heparin or any
medicine derived from heparin, pork products or any of the ingredients listed at the
end of the CMI.
Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, especially those which
involve increased risk of bleeding such as haemophilia, low platelet count, very high
or very low blood pressure, a heart infection, ulcers, liver or kidney disease, diabetes,
cancer or allergies/asthma, or if you have recently had a stroke or major surgery,
given birth, or are pregnant/ breastfeeding
or have heavy or unusual menstrual periods.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Some medicines may interfere with HEPARIN SODIUM and affect how it works. Heparin
treatment may also lead to an increase of potassium in your blood, so you must tell
your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including those which raise your
potassium levels. Also tell your doctor if you are a smoker or a heavy drinker (of
alcohol).
4. How is HEPARIN SODIUM given?
HEPARIN SODIUM is given by injection either under the skin or into a vein, or as a
slow 'drip' into a vein.
Your doctor will decide what dose you will receive and for how long you will receive
HEPARIN SODIUM. It must only be given by a doctor or a nurse.
5. What should I know during treatment with HEPARIN SODIUM?
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Things you should do
|
Tell your doctor if you notice any unusual bleeding, such as nose bleeds, bleeding
gums after brushing your teeth, excessive bleeding at the injection site or from any
open wounds.
If you need medical, dental/surgical procedures including blood test and contrast
scans/x-rays in the next few weeks, tell your doctor, dentist, nurse or anaesthetist
that you recently received heparin.
If you have any physical accidents once you leave hospital, seek medical attention
and tell your treating doctor or nurse that you have recently been treated with HEPARIN
SODIUM.
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Driving or using machines
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In some cases, HEPARIN SODIUM may cause drowsiness, tiredness, dizziness, confusion
or anxiety/agitation. If this occurs, do not drive or use machines.
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Drinking alcohol
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Tell your doctor if you are a heavy alcohol drinker, as you would be at a greater
risk of major heparin-associated bleeding than moderate or light drinkers.
|
6. Are there any side effects?
Side effects include: pain/bruising at injection site, allergic reaction, feeling
sick/vomiting, unusual/increased bleeding, tingling/numbness or discolouration of
hands/feet, abnormal heartbeat; muscle weakness, fever, severe back/tummy pain or
headache, bleeding in tummy, gut, spine or brain, dizziness, osteoporosis, chest tightness/pain,
difficulty breathing, stroke.
Active ingredient(s):
heparin sodium (from pig products)
Full Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about being treated with HEPARIN SODIUM.
You should also speak to your doctor or nurse if you would like further information
or if you have any concerns or questions about being treated with HEPARIN SODIUM.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
1. Why am I being given HEPARIN SODIUM?
HEPARIN SODIUM contains the active ingredient heparin sodium, which is derived from
pig products.
It belongs to a group of medicines known as anti-coagulants, which work by decreasing
the clotting ability of the blood, to help stop blood clots from forming.
Anti-coagulants are sometimes called "blood thinners", although they do not actually
thin the blood.
Heparin will not dissolve blood clots that have already formed, but it may prevent
any clots that have already formed from becoming larger and causing serious problems.
HEPARIN SODIUM is used to:
Prevent and treat blood clots in vessels that have started to clog up, in conditions
such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and other blood vessel, heart and lung conditions.
Prevent blood clots from forming during and/or surgery, kidney dialysis, blood transfusions
or similar procedures.
Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why it has been prescribed for you.
2. What should I know before being given HEPARIN SODIUM?
Warnings
Do not use HEPARIN SODIUM:
If you have an allergy to heparin or medicines derived from heparin, pork products
or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet. Always check the ingredients
to make sure you can be given this medicine.
if you have, or have ever had, any of the following medical conditions: diseases or
conditions where bleeding may be a problem, such as haemophilia, problems with fragile
capillaries (small blood vessels), tumours, stroke (bleeding on the brain), endocarditis
(inflammation of the lining of the heart), very high blood pressure, low blood platelet
count (thrombocytopenia), stomach or gut ulcers, or other conditions which may bleed,
such as severe kidney or liver disease, or very recent major surgery involving the
eyes, brain or spinal cord.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, and if so, whether you have a history of miscarriage,
or if you have recently had a baby.
Check with your doctor if you:
have any other medical conditions such as: asthma or allergies, high blood pressure,
ulcers, heart problems, cancer, diabetes, any disorders associated with your blood,
have an infection, liver or kidney disease or eye diseases
have had any very recent medical, surgical or dental procedures
are scheduled to have any surgical or major dental procedures in the next few weeks
are scheduled to have any contrast scans/x-rays in the next few weeks
have any tummy/gut drainage tubes
heavy or unusual menstrual periods.
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important
you understand these risks. See additional information under Section
6. Are there any side effects?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or are breastfeeding.
When heparin is used in pregnant women, it may cause premature (early) delivery or
harm your baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of treatment with
HEPARIN SODIUM in pregnancy and when breastfeeding.
Use in children
HEPARIN SODIUM may be given to children.
Use in the elderly
HEPARIN SODIUM should be used with caution in the elderly, especially in patients
aged 60 years and above, as they may be at an increased risk of bleeding complications.
Your doctor will consider this with treatment and will monitor accordingly.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including
vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket
or health food shop.
Some medicines may interfere with HEPARIN SODIUM and affect how it works.
Medicines that may increase the effect of HEPARIN SODIUM (i.e. increase the risk of
bleeding) include:
medicines derived from heparin - such as dalteparin sodium or enoxaparin sodium
other anticoagulants ('blood thinners') - such as warfarin
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ('NSAIDs') - such as aspirin, naproxen, ibuprofen,
diclofenac, piroxicam, meloxicam, indometacin and keterolac
platelet inhibitors - such as clopidogrel, prasugrel, ticagrelor, tirofiban, eptifibatide
and dipyradamole
thrombolytics (clot-dissolving medicines) - such as alteplase, tenecteplase, apixaban,
rivaroxaban and dabigatran
dextran, a medicine used to treat 'shock', which occurs when you have dangerously
low blood pressure
systemic corticosteroids - for example prednisone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone,
beclomethasone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone and triamcinolone
hydroxychloroquine, used to treat/prevent malaria, or to treat rheumatoid arthritis
(RA) or systemic lupus erythematosus ('lupus')
probenecid, used to treat gout
medicines used to treat some cancers, known as 'cytostatics' - for example cytarabine,
daunorubicin, fluorouracil and methotrexate
asparaginase, used to treat a cancer of the white blood cells known as acute lymphocytic
leukaemia ('ALL')
some antibiotics - such as penicillin and cefamandole
sodium valproate (also known as 'valproic acid'), used to treat epilepsy
epoprostenol, used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension ('PAH')
propylthiouracil, used to treat thyroid issues
contrast media used in some scans/x-rays
Medicines that may decrease the effect of HEPARIN SODIUM (i.e. increase the risk of
clotting) include:
medicines to control bleeding such as andexanet alfa
antihistamines (medicines used to prevent or relieve the symptoms of allergy, hay
fever or rashes) - especially those containing diphenhydramine
digoxin, a medicine used to treat heart failure
tetracycline antibiotics, such as doxycycline, minocycline and tigecycline, used to
treat some infections
medicines that contain ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
quinine, used to treat malaria
glyceryl trinitrate (also known as nitroglycerin), used to treat angina (chest pain)
and anal fissures
nicotine (including e-cigarettes, vapes, nicotine patches, tablets etc.)
alcohol
HEPARIN SODIUM may also increase blood potassium levels in patients taking the following
medicines:
potassium salts, some fluid tablets (e.g. amiloride, spironolactone and eplerenone),
some medicines for heart problems (e.g. perindopril, lisinopril, enalapril and telmisartan,
candesartan, irbesartan, losartan) and some antibiotics (e.g. trimethoprim and pentamidine).
HEPARIN SODIUM may also increase the effects of:
oral anti-diabetic drugs known as 'sulfonylureas', such as gliclazide, glimepiride
and glipizide
benzodiazepines, also known as 'benzos', such as diazepam, oxazepam, midazolam
propranolol, used to treat high blood pressure and other heart issues.
If you are taking any of these medicines while using HEPARIN SODIUM, your doctor will
need to carefully monitor your blood clotting factors and other blood levels, such
as potassium.
Check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines,
vitamins or supplements you are taking and if these affect HEPARIN SODIUM.
4. How is HEPARIN SODIUM given?
How much is given
Your doctor will decide what dose, how often and how long you will receive HEPARIN
SODIUM.
How it is given
HEPARIN SODIUM may be given as an injection under the skin (subcutaneously), by an
injection into a vein, or through a slow infusion “drip” into a vein (intravenously).
It should not be injected into muscle.
If you are given too much HEPARIN SODIUM
As HEPARIN SODIUM is being given to you in hospital, under the close supervision of
your doctor, it is very unlikely that you will receive too much. Your condition will
also be carefully monitored following administration.
Tell your doctor or nurse immediately if you are concerned that you may have been
given too much HEPARIN SODIUM. Symptoms of an overdose may be abnormal bleeding from
your bowel motion (poo), urine (wee), under your skin, from your nose, or abnormal
bruising or coughing up blood.
5. What should I know during treatment with HEPARIN SODIUM?
Things you should do
Follow your doctor's instructions carefully and be sure to keep all medical appointments.
Tell your doctor if you notice any unusual bleeding, such as nose bleeds, bleeding
gums after brushing your teeth, heavier than normal menstrual bleeding, excessive
bleeding at the injection site, blood in your wee/poo, or from any open wounds or
have unusual stomach pain.
Tell your doctor if you notice sudden or severe headaches, numbness or tingling, vision
or hearing changes, memory loss, muscle weakness or tremors, balance and coordination
issues, slurred or changed speech, seizures, unexplained fatigue, problems with swallowing,
or changes in mood or personality.
Your doctor may ask you to have blood tests to check your progress and prevent unwanted
side effects. If you are scheduled to have any blood tests or contrast scans/x-rays
in the next few weeks after you leave hospital, remind your doctor that you have recently
been given HEPARIN SODIUM, as it may interfere with the results of some tests.
If you have any physical accidents once you leave hospital, seek medical attention
and advise your treating doctor or nurse that you have been given HEPARIN SODIUM recently,
as you are at greater risk of bleeding and complications.
If you need medical, dental or surgical procedures in the next few weeks after you
leave hospital, tell your doctor, dentist, anaesthetist or pharmacist that you have
recently been treated with HEPARIN SODIUM, as it may affect other medicines being
used.
Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist that you visit that you have recently been
treated with HEPARIN SODIUM.
Driving or using machines
Do not drive a car or use any machines or tools until you know how HEPARIN SODIUM
affects you.
In some cases, HEPARIN SODIUM may cause drowsiness, tiredness, dizziness, confusion
or anxiety/agitation.
Drinking alcohol
If you drink heavily, you have a greater risk of bleeding associated with HEPARIN
SODIUM compared to moderate drinkers or non-drinkers.
Looking after your medicine
HEPARIN SODIUM will be stored in the pharmacy or on the ward under the correct conditions.
6. Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of
them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or nurse if you have
any further questions about side effects.
If you are over 60 years of age you may have an increased chance of getting side effects,
especially if you are female. Some side effects may occur several weeks after finishing
treatment with HEPARIN SODIUM.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or nurse if you notice anything else that may be making you feel
unwell.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.
Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side-effects you experience, you can
report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at
www.tga.gov.au/safety/reporting-problems . By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of
this medicine.
Always make sure you speak to your doctor or nurse before you decide to stop taking
any of your medicines.
7. Product details
What HEPARIN SODIUM contains
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Active ingredient
(main ingredient)
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heparin sodium (from pig products)
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Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
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hydrochloric acid
sodium hydroxide
water for Injections
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Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
HEPARIN SODIUM does not contain lactose, sucrose, gluten, preservatives, tartrazine
or any other azo dyes.
What HEPARIN SODIUM looks like
HEPARIN SODIUM is a clear, colourless to straw-coloured solution in plastic ampoules.
5,000 IU / 5 mL: AUST R 49232
25,000 IU / 5 mL: AUST R 49236
Who distributes HEPARIN SODIUM
Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd
Sydney NSW
This leaflet was prepared in December 2025.