If you are in the hospital for a procedure and you are worried about news of the recent recalls of the heparin sodium drug, then you will want to prepare yourself with knowledge of what this drug is, what it effects, and whether you will likely need it or not. Heparin sodium is used for:

• anticoagulation (blood thinning) purposes for myocardial infractions
• atrial fibrillation
• pulmonary embolism
• deep-vein thrombosis
• cardiopulmonary bypass for heart surgeries

The drug is administered as a flush for catheters, which may be intravenous catheters, and may also be administered as a drip over a longer period of time. The only danger that a patient might be in from the recently recalled heparin sodium from the Baxter Healthcare company is in the form of a large or bolus dose of heparin sodium, which is given quickly.

This large dose of heparin sodium is the only known dose to cause a reaction in patients, and can be avoided by giving the smallest possible doses to achieve the desired result, and by giving those doses as slowly as possible. If you may need a dose of heparin sodium, make sure that your provider is aware of the recall and the FDA advisory, and ask if another anticoagulant might be right for you.