dalteparin

Generic Name: dalteparin
Other Brand Names: Fragmin

What is dalteparin?

Dalteparin is an anticoagulant (blood thinner) that prevents the formation of blood clots.

Dalteparin is used to treat or prevent blood clots in the veins, arteries, or lung that can be caused by cancer or certain heart conditions. Dalteparin is also used before surgery to reduce the risk of blood clots.

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Uses Side Effects Precautions Interactions Overdose
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking dalteparin?

You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to dalteparin, or if you have:

  • uncontrolled bleeding;

  • a severe lack of platelets in your blood;

  • if you are having surgery with spinal or epidural anesthesia; or

  • if you are allergic to pork products.

Before using dalteparin, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

  • eye problems caused by diabetes or high blood pressure,

  • an infection of the lining of your heart (also called bacterial endocarditis);

  • uncontrolled high blood pressure;

  • a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, such as hemophilia;

  • stomach or intestinal bleeding or disorder;

  • kidney disease;

  • liver disease; or

  • if you have ever had a blood cell problem after receiving heparin.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to receive dalteparin, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether dalteparin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not receive this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take dalteparin?

Dalteparin is given as an injection under the skin of your stomach, upper thigh, or buttocks. Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will give you this injection. You may be given instructions on how to inject your medicine at home. Do not use this medicine at home if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of needles and syringes used in giving the medicine.

You should be sitting or lying down while receiving a dalteparin injection.

Use a different place on your body each time you give yourself an injection. Your doctor will show you the places on your body where you can safely inject dalteparin. Do not inject this medicine into the same place two times in a row.

If you are using a single-dose prefilled syringe, follow the injection instructions closely. Single-dose syringes come in two different types and the directions for use are not the same for each type.

Use each needle and syringe only one time. Throw away used needles and syringes in a puncture-proof container. If your medicine does not come with such a container, ask your pharmacist where you can get one. Keep this container out of the reach of children and pets. Your pharmacist can tell you how to properly dispose of the container.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your kidney function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using dalteparin. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

Store dalteparin vials (bottles) at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Once you have used a vial for the first time, the medicine will keep at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Throw away the vial after 2 weeks have passed since you first used the vial, even if there is still medicine left in it.

Do not use any medication that is discolored or that has particles in it. Call your doctor for a new prescription.

What happens if I miss a dose of dalteparin?

Use the medication as soon as you remember the missed dose. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and use the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Where can I get more information about dalteparin?
Your pharmacist has information about dalteparin written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of dalteparin?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; itching or burning skin; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

  • easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;

  • any bleeding that will not stop;

  • blood in your urine or stools, black or tarry stools;

  • coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;

  • bruising, bleeding, swelling, or skin changes where the medicine was injected;

  • nausea, sweating, feeling light-headed, fainting;

  • sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;

  • sudden headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance;

  • pain or swelling in one or both legs; or

  • trouble breathing.

Less serious side effects include mild pain, redness, or warmth where the medicine was injected.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What is the most important information I should know about dalteparin?

You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to dalteparin or pork products, or if you have uncontrolled bleeding, a severe lack of platelets in your blood, or if you are having surgery with spinal or epidural anesthesia.

Before you receive dalteparin, tell your doctor if you have eye problems caused by diabetes or high blood pressure, an infection of your heart, uncontrolled high blood pressure, a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, stomach or intestinal bleeding, liver disease, or if you have ever had a blood cell problem caused by heparin.

Avoid taking aspirin while you are receiving dalteparin, unless your doctor recommends it as part of your treatment. Aspirin can increase your risk of bleeding.

Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use, especially blood thinners, aspirin, NSAIDs (such as Advil, Motrin Aleve, Orudis), or other medications used to treat or prevent blood clots. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using dalteparin. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

What should I avoid while taking dalteparin?

Avoid taking aspirin while you are receiving dalteparin unless your doctor recommends it as part of your treatment. Aspirin can increase your risk of bleeding.

What other drugs will affect dalteparin?

Before receiving dalteparin, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

  • a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);

  • other medications used to prevent blood clots, such as alteplase (Activase), anistreplase (Eminase), clopidogrel (Plavix), dipyridamole (Persantine), streptokinase (Kabikinase, Streptase), ticlopidine (Ticlid), and urokinase (Abbokinase);

  • salicylates such as Disalcid, Doan’s Pills, Dolobid, Salflex, Tricosal, and others; or

  • NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), diclofenac (Voltaren), diflunisal (Dolobid), etodolac (Lodine), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), ketorolac (Toradol), mefenamic acid (Ponstel), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), or piroxicam (Feldene).

These other drugs can also increase your risk of bleeding, and it is very important that you doctor knows if you are using any of them. You may not be able to receive dalteparin, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect dalteparin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

What happens if I have an overdose of dalteparin?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Symptoms of a dalteparin overdose may include bruising, nosebleed, blood in your urine or stools, or any bleeding that will not stop.

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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 2/11/2008