Heparin reactions can range from a bruise to death
Many drugs can give people adverse reactions, but few produce reactions with as great a range as does heparin.
The blood-thinner or anticoagulant known as heparin, which often is administered via injection, can cause the most extreme effect when it's contaminated and spurs an allergic reaction. Such reactions, in fact, can be deadly.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, an acute allergic reaction caused by contaminated heparin can produce an episode of anaphylactic or anaphylactoid reaction. This is marked by hives or swelling under the skin, especially of the tongue, lips, mouth, throat or eyelids.
Other signs and symptoms suggesting such a reaction are: nausea or vomiting, difficulty swallowing, low blood pressure, generalized or localized sensations of warmth, shortness of breath, and tingling or numbness in the extremities.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, an acute allergic reaction caused by contaminated heparin can produce an episode of anaphylactic or anaphylactoid reaction. This is marked by hives or swelling under the skin, especially of the tongue, lips, mouth, throat or eyelids.
Other signs and symptoms suggesting such a reaction are: nausea or vomiting, difficulty swallowing, low blood pressure, generalized or localized sensations of warmth, shortness of breath, and tingling or numbness in the extremities.
Low blood pressure warns of a heparin reaction
One of the chief warning symptoms for such a reaction is abnormally low blood pressure, which can be fatal. Other symptoms of an adverse reaction to heparin include a fast heart rate, burning sensation, chest pain, headache, stomach pain or discomfort, watery eyes, throat swelling, decreased skin sensitivity, bleeding tendencies, feeling unwell, thirst, redness of the skin, dizziness, fainting and increased sweating.You should be especially alert to such symptoms if you have had a surgical procedure, if you are taking dialysis or if you have any reason to believe you've received contaminated heparin. In such cases, see a physician immediately. Later, seek a heparin lawsuit with help from a personal injury attorney provided by the Goldwater Law Firm, which has helped many thousands of Americans with their personal injury legal needs.
Already, more than 80 Americans have died as a result of contaminated or overdosed heparin, and many more have been injured. Such tragedies never should have occurred, but they can be redressed, at least in part, via a heparin lawsuit that holds accountable those whose negligence caused such injuries. Use the free case evaluation form on this Web page to contact the Goldwater Law Firm and begin that process of recovery.