Heparin overdose

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Phone:617-632-7753

Overdose

Symptoms

Bleeding is the chief sign of Heparin overdosage. Nosebleeds, blood in urine, or tarry stools may be noted as the first sign of bleeding. Easy bruising or petechial formations may precede frank bleeding.

Treatment

Neutralization of Heparin effect

When clinical circumstances (bleeding) require reversal of Heparinization, protamine sulfate (1% solution) by slow infusion will neutralize Heparin sodium. No more than 50 mg should be administered, very slowly, in any 10-minute period. Each mg of protamine sulfate neutralizes approximately 100 USP Heparin units. The amount of protamine required decreases over time as Heparin is metabolized. Although the metabolism of Heparin is complex, it may, for the purpose of choosing a protamine dose, be assumed to have a half-life of about 1/2 hour after intravenous injection.

Administration of protamine sulfate can cause severe hypotensive and anaphylactoid reactions. Because fatal reactions often resembling anaphylaxis have been reported, the drug should be given only when resuscitation techniques and treatment of anaphylactic shock are readily available.

The content of this page is taken from the FDA package insert for this drug and should not be edited.