Unfractionated heparin

Heparin
Clinical data


Pronunciation	/ˈhɛpərɪn/ HEP-ə-rin
AHFS/Drugs.com	Monograph
Pregnancy category	C
Routes of administration	IV, SQ
ATC code	B01AB01 (WHO) C05BA03 (WHO) S01XA14 (WHO)
Legal status
Legal status	US: ℞-only In general: ℞ (Prescription only)
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	Erratic
Metabolism	Liver
Elimination half-life	1.5 hours
Excretion	Urine
Identifiers
IUPAC name see Heparin structure
CAS Number	9005-49-6^Y
PubChem CID	22833565
IUPHAR/BPS	4214
DrugBank	DB01109^N
ChemSpider	17216115^Y
UNII	T2410KM04A
ChEMBL	CHEMBL526514^Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.029.698
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C₁₂H₁₉NO₂₀S₃
Molar mass	12000–15000 g/mol
InChI InChI=1S/C26H41NO34S4/c1-4(28)27-7-9(30)8(29)6(2-52-63(43,44)45)53-24(7)56-15-10(31)11(32)25(58-19(15)21(36)37)55-13-5(3-62(40,41)42)14(60-64(46,47)48)26(59-22(13)38)57-16-12(33)17(61-65(49,50)51)23(39)54-18(16)20(34)35/h5-19,22-26,29-33,38-39H,2-3H2,1H3,(H,27,28)(H,34,35)(H,36,37)(H,40,41,42)(H,43,44,45)(H,46,47,48)(H,49,50,51)/t5-,6+,7+,8+,9+,10+,11+,12-,13-,14+,15-,16-,17+,18+,19-,22-,23?,24+,25+,26-/m0/s1^Y Key:ZFGMDIBRIDKWMY-PASTXAENSA-N^Y
^NY (what is this?)

Heparin, also known as unfractionated heparin (UFH), is medication which is used as an anticoagulant (blood thinner). Specifically it is used to treat and prevent deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and arterial thromboembolism. It is also used in the treatment of heart attacks and unstable angina. It is given by injection into a vein. Other uses include inside test tubes and kidney dialysis machines.

Common side effects include bleeding, pain at the injection site, and low blood platelets. Serious side effects include heparin induced thrombocytopenia. Greater care is needed in those with poor kidney function. Heparin appears to be relatively safe for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Heparin is a naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan.

The discovery of heparin was announced in 1916. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system. The wholesale cost in the developing world, when used for prevention, is about 9.63 to 37.95 USD per month. In the United States it costs about 25 to 50 USD per month. A fractionated version of heparin, known as low molecular weight heparin, is also available.