Heparin
US, Canada and Puerto Rico
A potentially life-saving drug that has been used since the 1930s, Heparin is a blood thinner used on patients who are at risk for developing blood clots during surgery. Aside from its potential side effects, which include hemorrhaging and osteoporosis, two different types of Heparin were contaminated in 2008, requiring recalls. But the drug was recalled only after allergic reactions claimed at least 81 lives in the United States. If you or a family member has been hurt by Heparin, please contact the dangerous drug lawyers at Balkin & Eisbrouch, LLC.
How Heparin Works
Heparin is an anticoagulant that decreases your blood’s ability to clot. It is typically administered by an injection or an IV inserted just below your skin.
Manufactured by Baxter Healthcare, Heparin is an effective treatment for:
- Atrial fibrillation: irregular heartbeats
- Pulmonary embolism: a life-threatening condition where blood clots become lodged in your lungs, hindering your ability to breathe and your blood’s ability to re-oxygenize.
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): blood clots stuck within your body’s deep veins, particularly your legs, which inhibit healthy blood circulation.
- Peripheral arterial embolism: blood clots in the large arteries of the arms and/or legs.
Heparin is commonly administered before kidney dialysis or heart surgery. Many medical devices are also coated with this drug.
Side Effects
Despite its number of applications, heparin can cause a variety of adverse side effects, some of which are potentially fatal:
- Hair loss
- Hemorrhaging (excessive bleeding)
- Allergic reactions
- Osteoporosis
- Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT): your body’s immune system mistakenly targets and destroys blood platelets, which can lead to heart attack and stroke
- Hyperkalemia: dangerously high levels of potassium in your blood, which can lead to potentially fatal arrhythmias
The 2008 Recalls
In 2008, two different types of heparin contamination resulted in drug recalls around the same time. The active ingredient in Heparin is derived from pig intestines and is often imported from outside the United States. The different types of Heparin were recalled because of contamination from products imported from China.
One contamination caused bloodstream infections in patients, while the other caused severe allergic reactions that killed more than 80 people in the United States.
Heparin Compensation
If you have been injured by Heparin, you may be able to collect compensation for:
- Past hospital bills
- Ongoing treatment costs
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Permanent disabilities
If you live in the United States, Puerto Rico or Canada and have been injured by Heparin, please contact the dangerous drug attorneys at Balkin & Eisbrouch, LLC. Our knowledgeable lawyers can answer your questions and help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
