Heparin is a natural product, available by prescription, which is used as an anticoagulant. Blood clots can cause severe and life-threatening problems. Heparin is used to prevent the formation of blood clots and in circumstances to help dissolve blood clots already formed, such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and other situations involving excessive blood clotting.
Heparin can help with the following
Hypercoagulation (Thickened Blood)
Heparin or another anticoagulant may be used as the primary blood thinner. Each patient must be treated individually.
Interstitial Cystitis
Heparin is a compound that has both anti-inflammatory and surface protective actions. While this drug can be given either by injection or by bladder instillation, the method of choice for the treatment of interstitial cystitis (IC) is bladder instillation. Heparin can mimic the activity of the bladder’s mucous lining, temporarily “repairing” the GAG layer, which may be defective in IC. It can be used as a primary treatment method, or as a “maintenance medication” to supplement other types of treatment.
A heparin solution of 10,000 units diluted with saline solution is instilled intravesically daily, and held in the bladder for 20 to 30 minutes. Patients can be taught to self-catheterize and do the treatments at home. After 3-4 months the frequency of instillations is reduced to 3-4 times per week. If there is no improvement in symptoms after 3 months, the dosage is increased to 20,000 units. It takes 3-6 months to begin to see improvement, but therapy should continue for at least 12 months and can be continued indefinitely.
Sublingual heparin (1000 units daily) has helped some people, at this dose there is no chance of anticoagulant consequences.
Susceptibility To Miscarriages
Aspirin followed by heparin may be used if a clotting abnormality is present.
Key
| May do some good |
| Likely to help |
| Highly recommended |
| Avoid absolutely |
Glossary
Anticoagulant
A substance that prevents or delays blood clots (coagulation).
Thrombosis
Formation of blood clots causing vascular obstruction.
Pulmonary
Pertaining to the lungs.
Embolism
Obstruction of a vessel by an abnormal body, usually a detached blood clot.