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.

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.

Dalteparin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

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 need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use dalteparin.

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.

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 disposable needle only one time. Throw away used needles in a puncture-proof container (ask your pharmacist where you can get one and how to dispose of it). Keep this container out of the reach of children and pets.

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 appointments..

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.

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.

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

Overdose symptoms may include bruising, nosebleed, blood in your urine or stools, or any bleeding that will not stop.

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.

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.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

There are many other drugs that can increase your risk of bleeding, and it is very important to tell your doctor if you are using any of them before you start using dalteparin. This includes:

• 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).

There may be other drugs that can interact with 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.

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about dalteparin.