Enoxaparin - Injection | HealthLink BC (2023)

FAQs

How do you know if enoxaparin is effective? ›

Your doctor will monitor your level of platelets. This is done to make sure you're not at a high risk of bleeding or that you're not having side effects. Anti-Xa levels. These levels can help let your doctor know how well this drug is working for you.

Response and effectiveness. The average time to peak effects on various clotting factors is anti-Xa (3 hours), anti-IIa (4 hours), and Heptest (2.5 hours). Activity against anti-Xa persists for about 12 hours following a once-daily dose of enoxaparin 40mg.

Most people need shots for 5 to 10 days, but in some cases it can be longer. Your doctor will tell you how long you need to have the shots. Enoxaparin is used to: Treat deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is a blood clot in the legs, pelvis, or arms.

o Wash your hands with soap and dry thoroughly. o Sit or lie in a comfortable position, so that you can see your abdomen. o You will be injecting into the right or left side of your abdomen at least 2 inches away from your belly button (see figure below). Avoid injecting where you have scars or bruises.

Enoxaparin works by blocking specific proteins that help form a clot. If you already have a blood clot, enoxaparin gives your body time to break down the clot. It also prevents new clots from forming. It can take the body weeks or months to fully break down a clot.

If you have epidural or spinal anesthesia or a spinal puncture while taking a 'blood thinner' such as enoxaparin, you are at risk for having a blood clot form in or around your spine that could cause you to become paralyzed.

When given intravenously, enoxaparin has a time to peak effect of 5 to 10 minutes compared with 3 to 5 hours when administered subcutaneously. Enoxaparin's 5- to 7-hour half-life is dose independent; however, dose adjustment is required in patients with renal insufficiency.

For prevention of deep venous thrombosis (abdominal or stomach surgery): Adults—40 milligrams (mg) injected under the skin once a day for 7 to 10 days. The first dose should be given 2 hours before the surgery.

Timing of dose: Enoxaparin should be administered at approximately the same time each day. 6pm has been traditional, but if anti-factor Xa levels are required (very infrequently required and normally only on the advice of a specialist), 8am is preferred as blood samples are required 4 hours post dose.

Does enoxaparin have to be given 12 hours apart? ›

Enoxaparin is usually given every 12 hours (no less than 10 hours and no more than 14 hours in between doses). Give the missed dose as soon as you remember.

Injections of LOVENOX are given to yourself once a day. The injection should be given at the same time each day, either in the morning or the evening.

Hold the syringe in the hand you write with (like a pencil). With your other hand, gently pinch the area of your abdomen between your forefinger and thumb to make a fold in the skin. Make sure you hold the skin fold throughout the injection.

It's important to keep pinching that fold of skin until the injection is done—that way the medication doesn't enter any muscle, which could be painful. Once the syringe is empty, pull the needle straight out and then let go of your skin. Don't try to put the needle cap back on the syringe after the injection.

Release the finger pressure you apply at the skin and inject the enoxaparin slowly. Take the needle out quickly, at the same angle in which you put it. If you start to bleed, gently apply pressure to the site for 5 to 10 seconds. Do not rub or massage the area.

Stay away from rough sports or other situations where you could be bruised, cut, or injured. Brush and floss your teeth gently. Be careful when using sharp objects, including razors and fingernail clippers. Enoxaparin may cause bleeding problems.

Lovenox should never be injected into muscle. This could cause bleeding into the muscle. By gently pinching the skin between your fingers all through the injection, the medicine only enters the fatty tissue of your stomach and not muscle.

The easiest way to do this is to pinch up a fold of skin using your thumb and forefinger if you are injecting into your stomach, thigh, or buttock area, or use your knee to create a pinched up area if you are injecting into your upper, outer arm (or have somebody else administer the injection for you).

Mild irritation, pain, bruising, redness, and swelling at the injection site may occur. Fatigue or fever may also occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

The Importance of Exercise if You Have DVT

Aerobic activity -- things like walking, hiking, swimming, dancing, and jogging -- can also help your lungs work better after a pulmonary embolism. Studies show that exercise also can improve symptoms of DVT, including swelling, discomfort, and redness.

Does Lovenox dissolve existing clots? ›

What does this medicine do? Enoxaparin (e noks ah PAIR in) is an anticoagulant, which helps prevent blood clots from forming in the blood vessels. It does not dissolve clots, although you may hear people call it a "blood thinner." In order for this medicine to safely help your child, it must be given correctly.

DVT/PE/death occurred in 10.1% (95% CI: 8 to 13) of Lovenox-treated patients and 11.3% (95% CI: 9 to 14) of heparin-treated patients. Adverse Events: Major bleeding episodes occurred in 4% and 3% of patients in the Lovenox and heparin arms, respectively.

throbbing or cramping pain, swelling, redness and warmth in a leg or arm. sudden breathlessness, sharp chest pain (may be worse when you breathe in) and a cough or coughing up blood.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), also known as blood clots, is a serious, growing public health issue that everyone should know about. Blood clots are preventable, yet an estimated 900,000 Americans are affected each year by a blood clot, resulting in nearly 100,000 deaths.

Enoxaparin is short-acting. So, it may be used during these times to prevent blood clots.

Descriptions. Enoxaparin injection is used to prevent deep venous thrombosis, a condition in which harmful blood clots form in the blood vessels of the legs. These blood clots can travel to the lungs and can become lodged in the blood vessels of the lungs, causing a condition called pulmonary embolism.

Lovenox (low molecular weight heparin) wears off after about 12 hours.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you don't remember until the next day, call your doctor for instructions. If this happens when your doctor is not available, skip the missed dose and start again the next day. Mark the missed dose in a diary or on a calendar.

Storing enoxaparin

Vials: Store at room temperature or in the refrigerator until opened. After opening, it is best to store in the refrigerator. Opened vials must be thrown away after 28 days. Unopened vials can be kept until the expiration date printed on the label.

Enoxaparin is given by a subcutaneous injection. A subcutaneous injection is an injection into the tissue just below the skin. The injections can be given in the legs, arms or abdomen. It comes in a vial or pre-filled syringe form.

Can you drink coffee while on enoxaparin? ›

These medications are used to slow blood clotting and include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, and others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, and others), enoxaparin (Lovenox), and more. Health experts advise caution when combining them with coffee, which can also slow blood clotting.

The peak provides the best indication for enoxaparin anticoagulant activity. [2] Steady state concentration is reached on day 2, after two doses of 1.5 mg/kg every 24 hours or three doses of 1 mg/kg every 12 hours. [1] As a result, anti-Xa concentrations should be drawn 4 hours post-dose on day 2.

Once-daily enoxaparin (1.5 mg/kg) provides 75% of the total drug received via twice-daily dosing (1 mg/kg) (9). The administration of 1 mg/kg twice-daily enoxaparin has been used for in-patient treatment of DVT with or without PE and outpatient treatment of acute DVT without PE as a bridge to warfarin (10).

This drug has an immediate onset of action. Enoxaparin increases Thrombin Time (TT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), preventing and reducing thromboembolic complications such as DVT, pulmonary embolism, and ischemic cardiac complications.

Enoxaparin prevents blood from clotting so it may take longer than usual for you to stop bleeding if you are cut or injured. Avoid activities that have a high risk of causing injury. Call your doctor if bleeding is unusual.

Patients treated with heparin are monitored by a blood test daily to see if their dose is optimal. The blood test used to check a patient's heparin level is the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). The doctor adjusts the dose of heparin based on these blood test results.