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Heparin Fact Sheet

Heparin is a drug and a heterogeneous group of straight-chain anionic mucopolysaccharides that are referred to as glycosaminoglycans, according to RxList. Heparin is used to treat and prevent blood clots.

  1. Properties

    • Heparin has anticoagulant properties that means that it prevents blood from clotting. Heparin is extremely acidic because of carboxylic and sulfate groups that are linked covalently, according to the Internet Drug Index.

    Uses

    • Heparin is used to treat venous thrombosis, blood clots, pulmonary embolism and chronic consumptive coagulopathies, according to the Internet Drug Index. Chronic consumptive coagulopathies are diseases that can turn blood into a semi-solid state in some areas of the body.

    Forms of Adminstration

    • Herparin is a drug that can be administered through deep subcanteous routes or intravenously, according to the Internet Drug Index.

    Side Effects

    • Side effects associated with taking heparin include hemorrhages, local irritation, hypersensitivity and, in some cases, osteoporosis, according to the Internet Drug Index.

    Overdose Symtpoms

    • The main symptom of heparin overdose is bleeding, but other symptoms include easy bruising and petechial formations, according to the Internet Drug Index. Petechial formations are small purple or red spots that develop on the body and are caused by hemorrhages.

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