Heparin was approved in 1972 and is manufactured by Baxter International. Heparin is given parenterally because it is degraded when taken by mouth.  It can be injected intravenously or under the skin. Injections into the muscle are avoided however, because of the potential for forming hematomas. The drug has been approved to be used as an anticoagulant; it is however also used to treat the following: acute coronary system (especially NSTEMI), atrial fibrillation, deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, cardiopulmonary bypass for heart surgery, or an ECMO circuit for extra corporeal life support. Heparin may also be used to treat sports injuries as a topical gel. While it is effective for treating deep-vein thromboses and pulmonary emboli at risk, there is no proof that it is effective at preventing death.

There are several disease states that are sensitive to Heparin. One is Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome a respiratory failure in adults or children that result from diffuse injury to the endothelium of the lung and is characterized by pulmonary edema with an abnormally high amount of protein in the edematous fluid and by difficult rapid breathing and hypoxemia. Another is Allergic Rhinitis, an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose marked especially by rhinorrhea, nasal congestion and itching, and sneezing caused by an exposure to an allergen. It can also be sensitive to Arthritis, Asthma, and inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis).

Heparin should not be used to treat people with low numbers of platelets in their blood, or who have previously developed a reduced platelet count due to treatment with the drug. Those actively bleeding or bleeding more than normal should not be given the drug either. Patients with severe high blood pressure, peptic ulcers, or bacterial infections of the heart valves or lining around the heart should not use Heparin. The drug can also not be given to those who have had recent injury or surgery to the brain, spinal cord or eyes, are due to have lumbar puncture or epidural anesthesia, or have severe liver disease.

Heparin has been linked to hundreds of serious and sometimes life-threatening reactions, including at least four deaths. The blood thinner, vital during surgery, is also used during dialysis and to prevent clots in the bedridden. It works faster than other blood thinners, as well. In January 2008, however, Baxter recalled 9 lost of its 1,000/unit mL multi-dose Heparin vials. This recall was initiated after receiving 100 reports of serious allergy –type reactions in patients who had been exposed to the drug. The FDA also issued a Public Health Advisory in mid-February 2008 warning health practitioners not to use Heparin products. Since 2008, according to the FDA, 350 reports of side effects of Baxter heparin have been received. The FDA has also reported the deaths of 4 patients administered the drug. Nearly all of these cases were dialysis patients who received high doses in short time periods. Doctors were cautioned to use the lowest possible doses, and administer is slowly. 

By the time the drug was recalled 400 life-threatening cases and 21 deaths had been reported.  Side effects relating to the recalled Heparin include the following: abdominal pain, decreased blood pressure, burning sensation, chest pain, diarrhea, dizziness, drug ineffectiveness, dyspepsia, erythema, flushing, headache, hyperhidrosis, hypoesthesia, hypotension, loss of consciousness, malaise, nausea, pallor, palpitations, parathesia, pharyngeal edema, restlessness, vomiting or retching, stomach discomfort, tachycardia, thirst, trismus, and unresponsiveness to stimuli. 

Side effects of Heparin include redness, pain, bruising, or sores on the injection site. It can also cause some hair loss.

Some serious side effects include the following: unusual bruising or bleeding; vomit that is bloody or looks like coffee grounds; stool that contains bright red blood or is black and tarry; blood in urine; excessive tiredness; nausea; vomiting; chest pain; pressure or squeezing discomfort; discomfort in the arms, shoulder, jaw, neck, or back; coughing up blood; excessive sweating; sudden severe headache; light headedness or fainting; sudden loss of balance or coordination; sudden trouble walking; sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arms, or legs, especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion or difficulty speaking or understanding speech; difficulty seeing in one or both eyes; purple or black skin discoloration; itching or burning, especially on the bottoms of feet; chills; fever; hives; rash; wheezing; shortness of breath; difficulty breathing or swallowing; hoarseness; osteoporosis in long-term users, or a painful erection lasting hours. 

Another serious side effect of Heparin is Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia syndrome (HITS), is the development of thrombocytopenia (low platelet counts) due to the administration of the anticoagulant Heparin. It predisposes to thrombosis, the formation of abnormal blood clots inside a blood vessel. It can also result in an elevation of serum aminotranferase which is an indication of liver damage. Hyperkalemia, alopecia, and sometimes even death also occur. Hyperkalemia is the presence of an abnormally high concentration of potassium in the blood, while alopiecia is the loss of hair, wool, or feathers.