Resources for Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

FDA advises doctors to limit heparin doses

www.cleveland.com

U.S. regulators have urged doctors to limit use of Baxter International Inc.'s blood thinner heparin after getting reports of severe reactions among patients taking the drug.

The blood pressure of some patients dropped so low that they were at risk of life-threatening shock, the Food and Drug Administration said in a statement. Other reactions included vomiting and difficulty breathing. Four patients have died after receiving injections of heparin, although the relationship to the drug is unclear, the agency said.

The reactions occurred in patients who took a high dose in a short period of time, not among people on a lower dose taken over a longer period of time, the FDA said. Patients about to undergo kidney dialysis or heart bypass surgery often get the high doses to prevent clotting during the procedure, Jenkins said.

View the Resource

Share or bookmarklet this web page at: