What it means
The antidote to heparinHEP-uh-rinAn anticoagulant drug, given by injection or IV, that keeps blood clots from forming or growing.Full entry . It is a protein that sticks to heparin and stops it working; about 1 mg of protamine reverses about 100 units of heparin. It only partly reverses low-molecular-weight heparins such as enoxaparin. It can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, a slow heart rate, trouble breathing and allergic reactions.
For the nurse
Give it slowly IV as ordered, with blood pressure and heart rate watched closely and emergency equipment nearby. Clients at higher risk of reactions include those with fish allergy, past protamine use, or use of insulins containing protamine (such as NPH), and men who have had a vasectomy. Check clotting tests afterward, since heparin's effect can return.
At a glance
| Drug class | heparin antagonist (antidote) |
|---|---|
| Spanish | protamina |
| Also written | protamine sulfate |
Related terms
anticoagulant
A drug that slows the blood's ability to form clots.
heparin
An anticoagulant drug, given by injection or IV, that keeps blood clots from forming or growing.
NPH insulin
An intermediate-acting, cloudy insulin, usually given once or twice a day.