Heparin

Heparin Drug Heparin is an anticoagulant drug designed to decrease the blood's ability to clot. Heparin can be used for patients of all ages and is most commonly used for patients with:

Deep-vein thrombosis (DVT)
Pulmonary embolism
Acute coronary syndrome (e.g., myocardial infarction)
Atrial fibrillation

Heparin is also frequently used for patients who are undergoing a cardiopulmonary bypass for heart surgery and for dialysis patients. It may also be used for patients who must remain in bed for a long period of time.

Despite its uses, the drug has been under much scrutiny in recent times because of serious adverse health effects.

Heparin Recalled Over Allergic Reactions and Deaths
Heparin is a natural substance derived from mucosal tissues of mammals. It's injected or infused in patients, at differing dosages that depend in part on the patient's body weight. Most of the heparin used today is made from the mucosal tissue of pig intestines, which are obtained in China.

There are two main suppliers of heparin in the U.S.: Baxter International Inc. and APP Pharmaceuticals Inc. Baxter provides about half of the heparin used in hospitals across the country, and in February 2008, Baxter recalled the majority of its heparin products after they were linked to hundreds of reports of allergic reactions and several deaths.

Lawsuit Filed
In November 2007, heparin and Baxter were in the news when the twin babies of the actor Dennis Quaid were mistakenly administered 10,000 times the appropriate dose of heparin, which could easily have killed them; the babies recovered, and the Quaids have sued both Baxter (regarding the heparin's labeling) and Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, where the twins were receiving medical care.

Harmed by Heparin?
Heparin dosing mistakes and recalled heparin have harmed many patients. If you or a loved one are among this patient population, contact an experienced attorney in your area to discuss your case.

Defective Drugs Breaking News

"Heparin Linked Deaths Continue to Pile"

After months of investigation, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has definitively tied three patient deaths to contaminated heparin.

Heparin...

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"Devices Coated with Carmeda BioActive Recalled"

Medical device maker Medtronic has issued a voluntary recall of heparin-coated bypass equipment, including pumps, reservoirs and blood oxygenators. The company said the recall is a pre...

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"Families Testify for Loved Ones Harmed by Heparin"

The families of people who died from contaminated heparin injections testified before Congress last week, expressing anger and grief over manufacturing and regulatory safety failures.

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Heparin

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Heparin

Defective Drugs Breaking News

"Heparin Linked Deaths Continue to Pile"

"Devices Coated with Carmeda BioActive Recalled"

"Families Testify for Loved Ones Harmed by Heparin"

Other Areas of Drug Recall