Baxter Healthcare issued a voluntary recall of several lots of their multi-dose vials of heparin sodium on the 17th of January after the FDA noted a significant rise in the number of patients who reported adverse reactions from the drug. These reactions are similar to an allergic reaction, and can include many symptoms, including nausea and vomiting, shortness of breath, swelling of the mouth, and in certain cases, a drop of blood pressure that requires medical intervention and treatment.

The heparin sodium reaction was noted only in patients who received a bolus or high dose of the heparin sodium over a short period of time, and was not considered to be a problem in the single dose vials or in cases of a drip, where the heparin sodium was administered a little at a time over an extended period.

No deaths have been reported as a result of the reaction to the heparin sodium doses, however the FDA has advised that bolus doses of heparin sodium be used only when absolutely necessary until the problem has been resolved, and that healthcare workers avoid the use of heparin sodium from Baxter Healthcare if at all possible.

What should you do if you experience adverse reactions to your medication? Use the following tips:

• If your reaction is severe, call 9-1-1 immediately.
• If you've taken more that recommended, call your local poison control center. You should have this number readily available at all times.
• If you can't find a poison control center phone number, call your doctor or a local hospital.
• Note how much of the drug you took and when.
• Note the other substances you've ingested in the past 8 hours.
• Only stop medication dosage if a doctor tells you to stop.

The more information you can give the people helping you, the faster you can recover!