Unihepa Drug Interactions

Drugs which affect platelet function eg. aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, dextran and dipyridamole, may increase the risk of haemorrhage and should be used with caution in patients receiving heparin. Concomitant use of thrombolytic agents such as streptokinase or urokinase may also increase the risk of haemorrhage.
Heparin is incompatible with certain substances in aqueous solution. Reference to specialised literature should be made to verify in which solution the incompatibility was noted. The following incompatibilities have been reported: hydrocortisone; hyaluronidase; hydroxyzine; some antihistamines, narcotic analgesics, phenothiazines and antibiotics.
Incompatibilities: Incompatibility has been reported between heparin (sodium and calcium) and amikacin sulphate, amiodarone, ampicillin sodium, benzylpenicillin sodium, cephalothin sodium, ciprofloxacin lactate, daunorubicin hydrochloride, dobutamine hydrochloride, doxorubicin hydrochloride, erythromycin lactobionate, gentamicin sulphate, haloperidol lactate, hyaluronidase, hydrocortisone sodium succinate, kanamycin sulphate, methicillin sodium, opioid analgesics, oxytetracycline hydrochloride, polymyxin B sulphate, promazine hydrochloride, promethazine hydrochloride, streptomycin sulphate, sulphafurazole diethanolamine, tetracycline hydrochloride, tobramycin sulphate and vancomycin hydrochloride. Admixture with glucose can have variable effects.
Heparin is strongly acidic and is incompatible with many solutions containing medications, although no loss of activity occurs when the agents are given via separate administration sites. Also, heparin may be incompatible with solutions containing a phosphate buffer, sodium carbonate, or sodium oxalate. It is recommended that heparin not be mixed, or administered through the same intravenous line, with other medications unless compatibility has first been established. In addition, heparin may be inactivated when used in conjunction with an artificial kidney because of an influx of calcium, magnesium, and acetate ions from the dialysate.