The antidote for Heparin is protamine sulfate. You would give this antidote if aPTT or INR exceeds the therapeutic level or if there's evidence of bleeding. AntidotesĮach medication has an antidote. If they aren't working enough, the clots will grow. But if these numbers are too low, the clots will grow so this is why we want to make sure these lab values are in a therapeutic range because if they exert their effect too much, the patient can bleed out. The 💡 memory trick is: Numbers are too high, patients will die, meaning from bleeding out. If aPTT or INR is too high, there is an increased chance for bleeding. What does it mean when these values are out of range? The normal range for INR while taking Warfarin is 2 to 3 seconds. The normal range for aPTT when taking Heparin is 47 to 70 seconds. Here are some must-know numbers when remembering aPTT and INR. They are blood tests to measure how fast or slow the blood is clotting and measured in seconds. You can remember Heparin is measured with aPTT because Heparin has a P in it, and Warfarin does not.ĪPTT stands for Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time and INR stands for International Normalized Ratio. Heparin is measured with something called aPTT, and Warfarin is measured with something called INR. So many students get confused with this topic, but I'm going to break it down into simple terms. 💡 A memory trick for this is: Warfarin think WAIT, don't give that to a pregnant person. Warfarin is not safe during pregnancy because it crosses the placenta and is teratogenic, meaning it causes harm to the developing fetus. Heparin is safe to give during pregnancy because it does not cross the placenta or into the breast milk. OK, let's talk about the effects of these medications during pregnancy. Are these medications safe for pregnancy? Heparin works immediately, which allows time for Warfarin to take effect. Both medications will be given for several days until Warfarin reaches therapeutic levels. You can remember this by the 💡 memory trick: Warfarin You have to WAIT! Can you give Heparin and Warfarin Together?Ī common question that's asked is “can you give Heparin and Warfarin together?” The answer is YES. It can take hours to take effect and even days to reach maximum therapeutic levels, which is why it's great for a long-term therapy. You can remember this by the 💡 memory trick: Heparin happens FAST. This is why it's great for a short term therapy. The onset of these medications are very different. Warfarin can be given orally or intravenously, but it's most commonly given orally. However, Heparin can not be given orally because Heparin is inactivated by gastric acids in the stomach. Heparin can be given intravenously or subcutaneously. Let's dive into the key differences between these two medications. Key Differences Between Heparin and Warfarin The difference between Heparin and Low Molecular Weight Heparin is that Low Molecular Weight Heparins produce a more stable response and they have a lower chance of bleeding than Heparin sodium. So I like to use this thing called saved by the suffixes method for learning medications. It's almost impossible to remember every single medication in your textbook. Learn the suffixes for each medication class rather than memorizing each medication individually. The suffix is PARIN, like Enoxa PARIN or Dalte PARIN. Low molecular weight Heparins are easy to recognize because of their SUFFIXES. An example of a Low Molecular Weight Heparin is enoxaparin, brand name Lovenox. You'll see it written as LMWH, also called fractionated Heparin. Heparin is a little bit more difficult because it's available as Heparin sodium and something else called Low Molecular Weight Heparin.
It also helps prevent clots such as DVTs and PEs postoperatively, meaning clients who just got out of really long surgeries are at increased risk for blood clots. These medications prevent or treat blood clots in those with DVTs (Deep Vein Thrombosis), PEs (Pulmonary Embolisms), and A-fib, which is a dysrhythmia that causes blood to accumulate in the heart's chambers, causing blood clots. They DO NOT THIN THE BLOOD or dissolve clots, they only prevent new clots from forming or prevent current clots from getting bigger. You'll hear Heparin and Warfarin referred to as blood thinners. ❌ What anticoagulants don't do is thin the blood.
✔️ What anticoagulants do is they prevent new clots from forming and they prevent current clots from getting bigger. Today I'm going to talk about anticoagulants, specifically Heparin and Warfarin! If you're following along with your pharmacology flashcards, I'm in the cardiovascular section on the Heparin and the Warfarin card.īefore we dive into the core differences between these two medications, let's talk about what anticoagulants do and what they don't do. Hey there! It's Kristine from Nurse In The Making.
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