What is Heparin?

Heparin is a prescription drug in a class of medications called anticoagulants, also known as blood thinners. It is one of the oldest drugs currently still in widespread clinical use. Crude heparin is extracted from the intestines of slaughtered pigs. Heparin works by decreasing the clotting ability of the blood, thereby preventing the actual formation of clots or preventing the extension of existing clots within the blood. It is most often administered intravenously and is used primarily to decrease the chance of clots forming in patients undergoing certain medical procedures such as cardiac surgery, in preventing the formation of clots in catheters (small plastic tubes through which medication is administered or blood drawn) such as in kidney dialysis, and for other such conditions like pulmonary emboli.

Additional information about heparin can be obtained by clicking on the links below:

Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heparin

Encyclopedia Britannica:

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/262191/heparin

Consumer Reports:

http://www.consumerreports.org/health/drug-reports/heparin-injection.htm 

Medline Plus:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a682826.html

RX List:

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/heparin_ids.htm

 

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