eMC - trusted, up to date and comprehensive information about medicines
Link to eMC medicine guides website
eMC homepage
Get Medicines Compendium UK app here

Wockhardt UK Ltd

Ash Road North, Wrexham Industrial Estate, Wrexham, LL13 9UF
Telephone: +44 (0)1978 661 261
Fax: +44 (0)1978 660 130

Before you contact this company: often several companies will market medicines with the same active ingredient. Please check that this is the correct company before contacting them. Why?

Summary of Product Characteristics last updated on the eMC: 22/03/2011
SPC Heparin sodium 5,000 I.U./ml solution for injection or concentrate for solution for infusion (with preservative)

When a pharmaceutical company changes an SPC or PIL, a new version is published on the eMC. For each version, we show the dates it was published on the eMC and the reasons for change.

Updated on 22/03/2011 and displayed until Current
Reasons for adding or updating:
  • Change to section 4.2 - Posology and method of administration
Date of revision of text on the SPC:   04-Mar-2011
Legal Category:   POM
Black Triangle (CHM):   NO

Free-text change information supplied by the pharmaceutical company

Section 4.2 amended to include information regarding maintenance during unstable angina and acute peripheral arterial occlusion
Updated on 19/03/2010 and displayed until 22/03/2011
Reasons for adding or updating:
  • Change to section 4.2 - Posology and method of administration
  • Change to section 4.4 - Special warnings and precautions for Use
Date of revision of text on the SPC:   18-Sep-2009
Legal Category:   POM
Black Triangle (CHM):   NO

Free-text change information supplied by the pharmaceutical company



Addition of information relating to "heparin resistance" in sections 4.2 & 4.4. 

Updated on 22/06/2009 and displayed until 19/03/2010
Reasons for adding or updating:
  • Change to section 6. 3 - Shelf Life
  • Change to section 10 date of revision of the text
Date of revision of text on the SPC:   20-Feb-2009
Legal Category:   POM
Black Triangle (CHM):   NO

Free-text change information supplied by the pharmaceutical company

Section 6.3 - Shelf life extended from 18 to 36 months

Section 10 -  Date of revision amended
Updated on 22/09/2008 and displayed until 22/06/2009
Reasons for adding or updating:
  • Change to section 4.5 - Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
  • Change to section 4.3 - Contraindications
  • Change to section 4.4 - Special warnings and precautions for Use
  • Change of Marketing Authorisation Holder
  • Change to section 4.8 - Undesirable Effects
  • Change to section 6.2 - Incompatibilities
Date of revision of text on the SPC:   20-Sep-2007
Legal Category:   POM
Black Triangle (CHM):   NO

Free-text change information supplied by the pharmaceutical company



 

Section 4.3 – text added:

 

Because of the special hazard of post-operative haemorrhage heparin is contra-indicated during surgery of the brain, spinal cord and eye, in procedures at sites where there is a risk of bleeding, in patients that have had recent surgery, and in patients undergoing lumbar puncture or regional anaesthetic block.

 

Section 4.4

 

The risk of bleeding is increased with severe renal impairment and in the elderly (particularly elderly women). women over 60 years of age.

 

Section 4.5 – text added & amended:

           

            Analgesics: Drugs that interfere with platelet aggregation eg. aspirin and other NSAIDs, dextran solutions, dipyridamole, should be used with care.  Increased risk of haemorrhage with ketorolac (avoid concomitant use even with low-dose heparin).

 

            Anticoagulants, platelet inhibitors, etc: Increased risk of bleeding with oral anticoagulants, epoprostenol, clopidogrel, ticlopidine, streptokinase, dipyridamole, dextran solutions, or. Aany other drug which may interfere with coagulation.

           

Cephalosporins:  Some cephalosporins, e.g. cefaclor, cefixime and ceftriaxone, can affect the coagulation process and may therefore increase the risk of haemorrhage when used concurrently with heparin.

 

ACE inhibitors:  Hyperkalaemia may occur

 with concomitant use ACE

inhibitors

 

Nitrates:  Reduced activity of heparin has been reported with simultaneous intravenous glyceryl trinitrate infusion.

 

Probenecid: May increase the anticoagulant effects of heparin.

 

Tobacco smoke:  Nicotine may partially counteract the anticoagulant effect of heparin.  Increased heparin dosage may be required in smokers.

 

Interference with diagnostic tests may be associated with pseudo-hypocalcaemia (in haemodialysis patients), artefactual increases in total thyroxine and triiodothyronine, simulated metabolic acidosis and inhibition of the chromogenic lysate assay for endotoxin.  Heparin may interfere with the determination of aminoglycosides by immunoassays.

 

Section 4.8 – text added:

            Adrenal insufficiency secondary to adrenal haemorrhage has been associated with heparin (rarely).

 

 

Section 6.2 – text added:

The following drugs are incompatible with heparin;

                       

            Alteplase, amikacin sulphate, amiodarone hydrochloride, ampicillin sodium, aprotinin, benzylpenicillin potassium or sodium, cefalotin sodium, chlorpromazine hydrochloride, ciprofloxacin lactate, cisatracurium besilate, cytarabine, dacarbazine, daunorubicin hydrochloride, diazepam, doxorubicin hydrochloride, droperidol, erythromycin lactobionate, gentamicin sulphate,             haloperidol lactate, hyaluronidase, hydrocortisone sodium succinate, kanamycin sulphate, labetolol hydrochloride, meticillin sodium, methotrimeprazine, netilmicin sulphate, nicardipine hydrochloride, oxytetracycline hydrochloride, pethidine hydrochloride, polymyxin B sulphate, promethazine hydrochloride, streptomycin sulphate, tobramycin sulphate, triflupromazine hydrochloride, vancomycin hydrochloride and vinblastine sulphate. 



Section 7 - 'CP Pharmaceuticals Ltd' amended to 'Wockhatrdt UK Ltd'

Section 8 - PL 04543/0219 amended to PL 29831/0110

Section 9 & 10 amended
Updated on 25/09/2006 and displayed until 22/09/2008
Reasons for adding or updating:
  • Change to section 1 - trade name
  • Change to section 4.3 - Contra-indications
  • Change to section 4.4 - Special Warnings and Precautions for Use
  • Change to section 6. 4 - Special Precautions for Storage
  • Change to section 10 (date of (partial) revision of the text
Date of revision of text on the SPC:   05/2006
Legal Category:   POM
Black Triangle (CHM):   NO

Free-text change information supplied by the pharmaceutical company

Section 1: product debranded, name amended

 

Section 4.3 & 4.4: text regarding the preservatives benzyl alcohol and methyl parahydroxybenzoate added.

 

Section 6.4: information added regarding stability

 

Section 10: date of revision amended
Updated on 14/05/2003 and displayed until 25/09/2006
Reasons for adding or updating:
  • Change to section 6. 3 - Shelf Life
Updated on 13/08/2002 and displayed until 14/05/2003
Reasons for adding or updating:
  • Change to section 9 - Date of Renewal of Authorisation

Active Ingredients/Generics

 
   heparin sodium