Heparin
Heparin is an injectable anticoagulant (blood thinner) used to prevent and treat dangerous blood clots, including venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, and to keep blood from clotting during surgery, transfusions and dialysis.
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand
The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 59 clinical label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →
Heparin is a fast-acting injectable blood thinner (anticoagulant) that helps a natural protein, antithrombin, switch off key clotting factors. It is a hospital mainstay for preventing and treating clots in the veins (venous thrombosis) and lungs (pulmonary embolism) and for keeping blood from clotting during surgery and dialysis, and it has been on the market since about 1939 and is available generically. Most people tolerate it well, and the usual complaints are bruising or soreness where it is injected. Bleeding is the main risk and the reason for regular blood tests, so report unusual bleeding, black tarry stools, new clots or swelling, or allergic symptoms right away.
Clinical pearls
- A heparin-triggered platelet drop called HIT can cause new clots or a pale, painful limb, even weeks after the last dose.
- If you have ever had HIT, put it on your allergy list, since heparin should not be used again.
- Heparin is made from pork tissue, so tell your care team about any allergy to pork products before it starts.
- Avoid ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs) unless your prescriber approves, since they add to heparin's bleeding risk.
Patient information guide A plain-language walkthrough of Heparin, written from its FDA label.
What Heparin is used for
▾
Heparin is used for several clotting problems. Some uses belong to specific products.
- Prevention and treatment of venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism
- Clots linked to atrial fibrillation (Heparin Sodium Injection lists atrial fibrillation with embolization; the dextrose and sodium chloride products list thromboembolic complications of atrial fibrillation)
- Prevention of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism after major abdominothoracic surgery, or in people at risk (Heparin Sodium Injection)
- Acute and chronic consumptive coagulopathies (disseminated intravascular coagulation)
- Prevention of clotting in arterial and cardiac surgery
- Prevention and treatment of peripheral arterial embolism
- Anticoagulant use in blood transfusions, extracorporeal circulation and dialysis
How Heparin works
▾
Heparin attaches to antithrombin III, a protein your body already makes. This makes antithrombin far better at blocking clotting factors, especially Factor Xa and thrombin. Small amounts mainly block Factor Xa, and larger amounts block thrombin.
Heparin also stops a stable fibrin clot from forming. It does not break up existing clots.
Heparin dosage
▾
Heparin is given by injection because it is not absorbed from the gut. Depending on the product, it goes into a vein or deep under the skin. It is not for the muscle.
- Heparin Sodium Injection: into a vein (single, repeated or continuous) or deep under the skin, using a different site each time.
- Heparin Sodium and Dextrose: intravenous infusion.
- Heparin Sodium in Sodium Chloride: intravenous infusion only.
Full-dose heparin is adjusted using blood clotting tests. Follow your prescriber and the product label.
Dosing details from the FDA-approved label
From the Heparin prescribing information (“Dosage and Administration”). Doses are set by your prescriber for your product, condition, kidney function and age — never change a dose on your own.
- Therapeutic anticoagulant effect with full-dose heparin: deep subcutaneous (intrafat) injection
- Initial dose 5,000 units by intravenous injection, followed by 10,000 to 20,000 units of a concentrated solution, subcutaneously
- Then every 8 hours 8,000 to 10,000 units of a concentrated solution, or every 12 hours 15,000 to 20,000 units of a concentrated solution
- Based on 150 lb (68 kg) patient; adjust dose based on laboratory monitoring; use a different site for each injection
- Therapeutic anticoagulant effect with full-dose heparin: intermittent intravenous injection
- Initial dose 10,000 units, either undiluted or in 50 to 100 mL of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP
- Then every 4 to 6 hours 5,000 to 10,000 units, either undiluted or in 50 to 100 mL of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP
- Based on 150 lb (68 kg) patient; adjust dose based on laboratory monitoring
- Therapeutic anticoagulant effect with full-dose heparin: intravenous infusion
- Initial dose 5,000 units by intravenous injection
- Then continuous 20,000 to 40,000 units/24 hours in 1000 mL of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP (or in any compatible solution) for infusion
- Based on 150 lb (68 kg) patient; adjust dose based on laboratory monitoring
- Pediatric patients
- Initial dose 75 to 100 units/kg (intravenous bolus over 10 minutes)
- Maintenance dose infants: 25 to 30 units/kg/hour
- Children > 1 year of age: 18 to 20 units/kg/hour
- Infants < 2 months have the highest requirements (average 28 units/kg/hour); older children may require less heparin; adjust heparin to maintain APTT of 60 to 85 seconds; use preservative-free heparin in neonates and infants
- Cardiovascular surgery (total body perfusion for open-heart surgery)
- Initial dose of not less than 150 units of heparin sodium per kilogram of body weight
- Frequently 300 units per kilogram for procedures estimated to last less than 60 minutes, or 400 units per kilogram for those estimated to last longer than 60 minutes
- Low-dose prophylaxis of postoperative thromboembolism
- 5,000 units 2 hours before surgery and 5,000 units every 8 to 12 hours thereafter for 7 days or until the patient is fully ambulatory, whichever is longer, by deep subcutaneous (intrafat) injection
- Use a fine (25- to 26-gauge) needle to minimize tissue trauma
- Blood transfusion
- Add 450 USP units to 600 USP units of heparin sodium per 100 mL of whole blood to prevent coagulation
- Usually 7,500 USP units added to 100 mL of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP, and 6 mL to 8 mL of this solution added per 100 mL of whole blood
Read the label’s full dosing text
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Recommended Adult Dosages: • Therapeutic Anticoagulant Effect with Full-Dose Heparin † ( 2.4 ) Deep Subcutaneous (Intrafat) Injection Use a different site for each injection Initial Dose 5,000 units by intravenous injection, followed by 10,000 to 20,000 units of a concentrated solution, subcutaneously Every 8 hours or Every 12 hours 8,000 to 10,000 units of a concentrated solution 15,000 to 20,000 units of a concentrated solution Intermittent Intravenous Injection Initial dose 10,000 units, either undiluted or in 50 to 100 mL of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP Every 4 to 6 hours 5,000 to 10,000 units, either undiluted or in 50 to 100 mL of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP Intravenous Infusion Initial dose 5,000 units by intravenous injection Continuous 20,000 to 40,000 units/24 hours in 1000 mL of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP (or in any compatible solution) for infusion † Based on 150 lb (68 kg) patient. Adjust dose based on laboratory monitoring. 2.1 Preparation for Administration Confirm the choice of the correct Heparin Sodium Injection vial to ensure that the 1 mL vial is not confused with a “catheter lock flush” vial or other 1 mL vial of incorrect strength [s ee Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] . Confirm the selection of the correct formulation and strength prior to administration of the drug. To lessen this risk, the 1 mL vial includes a red cautionary label that extends above the main label. Read the cautionary statement and confirm that you have selected the correct medication and strength. Then locate the “Tear Here” point on the label, and remove this red cautionary label prior to removing the flip-off cap. When heparin is added to an infusion solution for continuous intravenous administration, invert the container repeatedly to ensure adequate mixing and prevent pooling of the heparin in the solution. Inspect parenteral drug products visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit. Use only if solution is clear and the seal is intact. Do not use if solution is discolored or contains a precipitate. Administer Heparin Sodium Injection by intermittent intravenous injection, intravenous infusion, or deep subcutaneous (intrafat, i.e., above the iliac crest or abdominal fat layer) injection.
Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Dosage and Administration section on DailyMed →
Heparin side effects
▾
Bleeding is the main side effect.
Common side effects
- Bleeding, the main complication
- Minor bleeding or bruising
- Irritation, redness, mild pain or bruising at the injection site
- Chills, fever and hives (allergic-type reactions)
- Itching and burning, especially on the soles of the feet
- Low platelet count (thrombocytopenia)
- Injection-site redness, mild pain, bruising or ulcer
When to get medical help
- Get help right away for unusual or heavy bleeding, such as nosebleeds, blood in urine, or black tarry stools.
- Tell your care team about easy bruising or tiny red or purple skin spots, which can come before heavier bleeding.
- Report a sudden drop in blood pressure or unexplained weakness, which can signal hidden bleeding.
- Seek help for new clots or swelling, stroke symptoms, chest pain, or a painful, pale or blue limb. These can signal heparin-induced thrombocytopenia with thrombosis, even weeks after stopping.
- Get emergency help for signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as wheezing, swelling or shock.
- Report signs of adrenal bleeding or insufficiency, or skin damage or dark skin changes.
Heparin warnings and precautions
▾
- Bleeding can happen anywhere and can be fatal. Risk is higher in people over 60, especially women.
- Medication errors: concentrated heparin vials have been mistaken for catheter lock flush, causing fatal bleeding. Never use it as a catheter lock flush.
- HIT and HIT with thrombosis: a serious immune reaction that lowers platelets and can cause dangerous clots, even weeks after stopping. Stop heparin if platelets fall below 100,000/mm3 or new clots develop.
- Benzyl alcohol: preservative-containing products can cause “gasping syndrome” in newborns and infants.
- High potassium: heparin can raise potassium, especially in people with diabetes or kidney failure.
- Heparin resistance: may occur with fever, infection, cancer, recent surgery, heart attack or antithrombin III deficiency.
Heparin interactions
▾
Several medicines can raise bleeding risk or change how heparin works.
- NSAIDs and other platelet-affecting drugs: more bleeding
- Warfarin or dicumarol: heparin can affect prothrombin time tests
- Andexanet alfa: can make heparin ineffective and cause clots
- Digitalis, tetracyclines, nicotine, antihistamines, IV nitroglycerin: may weaken heparin’s effect
- Antithrombin III (human): boosts heparin’s effect, so a lower dose is used
Interactions listed in the FDA-approved label
From the Heparin prescribing information (“Drug Interactions”): what the manufacturer studied or reported to the FDA.
- Oral anticoagulants (dicumarol, warfarin sodium): Heparin sodium may prolong the one-stage prothrombin time. When given with dicumarol or warfarin sodium, allow at least 5 hours after the last intravenous dose or 24 hours after the last subcutaneous dose before blood is drawn for a valid prothrombin time.
- Platelet inhibitors (NSAIDs including salicylic acid, ibuprofen, indomethacin, celecoxib; dextran; phenylbutazone; thienopyridines; dipyridamole; hydroxychloroquine; glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists including abciximab, eptifibatide, tirofiban): Drugs that interfere with platelet-aggregation reactions may induce bleeding. Use with caution in patients receiving heparin sodium.
- Andexanet alfa: Andexanet binds to heparin-bound antithrombin III and may reduce the anticoagulant effect of heparin; unresponsiveness to unfractionated heparin may lead to serious and life-threatening thrombotic events. Avoid use of heparin after use of andexanet alfa for reversal of direct Factor Xa inhibitors (apixaban and rivaroxaban); if anticoagulation is needed, use an alternative anticoagulant to heparin.
- Digitalis, tetracyclines, nicotine, antihistamines, or intravenous (IV) nitroglycerin: May partially counteract the anticoagulant action of heparin sodium.
- Antithrombin III (human): The anticoagulant effect of heparin is enhanced by concurrent treatment with antithrombin III (human) in patients with hereditary antithrombin III deficiency. To reduce the risk of bleeding, a reduced dosage of heparin is recommended during treatment with antithrombin III (human).
Read the label’s full interactions text
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS • Drugs that interfere with coagulation, platelet aggregation or drugs that counteract coagulation may induce bleeding ( 7.2 ) • Andexanet alfa may reduce the efficacy of heparin when used concomitantly ( 7.3 ) 7.1 Oral Anticoagulants Heparin sodium may prolong the one-stage prothrombin time. Therefore, when heparin sodium is given with dicumarol or warfarin sodium, a period of at least 5 hours after the last intravenous dose or 24 hours after the last subcutaneous dose should elapse before blood is drawn if a valid prothrombin time is to be obtained. 7.2 Platelet Inhibitors Drugs such as NSAIDs (including salicylic acid, ibuprofen, indomethacin, and celecoxib), dextran, phenylbutazone, thienopyridines, dipyridamole, hydroxychloroquine, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists (including abciximab, eptifibatide, and tirofiban), and others that interfere with platelet-aggregation reactions (the main hemostatic defense of heparinized patients) may induce bleeding and should be used with caution in patients receiving heparin sodium. 7.3 Unresponsiveness to Heparin with Concomitant Use with Andexanet Alfa Andexanet binds to heparin-bound antithrombin III (ATIII) and may reduce the anticoagulant effect of heparin. Unresponsiveness to unfractionated heparin may lead to serious and life-threatening thrombotic events. Use of andexanet alfa as an antidote for heparin has not been established. Avoid use of heparin after use of andexanet alfa for the reversal of direct Factor Xa inhibitors (apixaban and rivaroxaban). If anticoagulation is needed, use an alternative anticoagulant to heparin [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] . 7.4 Other Interactions Digitalis, tetracyclines, nicotine, or antihistamines, or intravenous (IV) nitroglycerin may partially counteract the anticoagulant action of heparin sodium.
Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Drug Interactions section on DailyMed →
Not a complete list. The label covers the interactions the manufacturer studied or reported, and our own interaction database does not cover every medicine either. Bring your full medication list, including vitamins and herbal products, to your pharmacist.
Before taking Heparin
▾
- Do not use with a history of HIT or HIT with thrombosis.
- Do not use with a history of low platelets after pentosan polysulfate.
- Do not use with a known allergy to heparin or pork products.
- Do not use during uncontrollable bleeding (except from disseminated intravascular coagulation).
- Full-dose use requires proper clotting tests.
- Use caution with bleeding risks such as severe high blood pressure, ulcers, liver disease, severe kidney disease, recent surgery or spinal procedures.
- Older adults may need lower doses.
- Infants need preservative-free products.
- Pregnancy: preservative-free is recommended. Published reports showed no increased risk of adverse outcomes.
- Breastfeeding: heparin is not likely to pass into milk or be absorbed by the baby. Benzyl alcohol in preserved products may pass into milk.
Heparin overdose
▾
Bleeding is the main sign of too much heparin. Early signs can include nosebleeds, blood in the urine, tarry stools, easy bruising or tiny red spots. When bleeding requires reversal, protamine sulfate given slowly by infusion can neutralize heparin. It can cause severe low blood pressure and allergic-type reactions, so it is given only where emergency care is available.
What Heparin does in the body
▾
At full therapeutic doses, heparin lengthens clotting tests such as activated clotting time and activated partial thromboplastin time. Low doses usually do not measurably change them. Bleeding time is usually unaffected.
How your body processes Heparin
▾
Heparin is not absorbed through the gut, so it is given by injection. After an intravenous dose, it works immediately. It binds strongly to blood proteins and is not broken down by enzymes. The liver and related cells clear it, and its half-life is dose-dependent, ranging from 0.5 to 2 hours. People over 60 may have higher levels and longer clotting times.
How to store Heparin
▾
Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F); excursions permitted between 15° and 30°C (59° and 86°F).
Written from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →
Heparin: pharmacist answers to common questions
Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Heparin — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.
What is heparin for?
▾
How will I get it?
▾
What side effects should I expect?
▾
When should I get help right away?
▾
Do other medicines matter with heparin?
▾
Is heparin safe in pregnancy?
▾
Is Heparin available over the counter?
▾
When was Heparin first available?
▾
Who makes Heparin?
▾
Answers drafted from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →
More about Heparin on HelloPharmacist
Heparin forms and strengths (how it comes)
Heparin is available in 2 forms. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.
Injection
How this form is used
- Heparin Sodium is used for venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, atrial fibrillation with embolization, and peripheral arterial embolism.
- Heparin Sodium is also used for disseminated intravascular coagulation, clot prevention in arterial and cardiac surgery, and as an anticoagulant in transfusions and dialysis.
- Heparin Sodium and Dextrose is used for clotting problems including venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and clots linked to atrial fibrillation.
- Heparin Sodium in Sodium Chloride is used for the same clotting conditions and for procedures such as dialysis.
- Heparin Sodium may be given into a vein or deep under the skin, and the label warns it is not for muscle injection.
- Heparin Sodium and Dextrose is given by intravenous infusion.
- Heparin Sodium in Sodium Chloride is given by intravenous infusion only and is not a catheter lock flush.
- Heparin Sodium products: check that the vial or bag is the correct strength before use.
Show 3 more strengths Show fewer strengths
Other oral form
Heparin on the U.S. market: products, makers and brands
How Heparin appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.
24 companies list 119 Heparin product records with the FDA, mostly as injection, other oral form; the earliest marketing or approval year on record is 1939. Brand names on the directory include Heparin Sodium in Sodium Chloride, Heparin Sodium and Dextrose; the rest are generics.
FDA-listed product records by dose form (tablet variants merged) — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.
Also listed with the FDA, not a patient dose form: Powder (29) — bulk drug substance sold to compounders/manufacturers and multi-item kits. These aren’t counted in the dose-form total above.
Share of FDA-listed product records by manufacturer — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.
How widely Heparin is used (Medicaid data)
A general measure of how commonly Heparin is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.
Think of this as a proxy for how widely Heparin is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.
How commonly is Heparin prescribed? Of the 1,601 medications we measure, Heparin ranks #369 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 77% of them.
Utilization by Heparin product
Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.
heparin sodium, porcine 1000 UNT/ML Injectable Solution Most dispensed
Summed across the 24 of 93 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1361226
heparin sodium, porcine 5000 UNT/ML Injectable Solution
Summed across the 18 of 58 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1361615
1 ML heparin sodium, porcine 5000 UNT/ML Injection
Summed across the 5 of 20 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1659263
500 ML heparin sodium, porcine 2 UNT/ML Injection
Summed across the 5 of 10 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1658692
250 ML heparin sodium, porcine 100 UNT/ML Injection
Summed across the 6 of 21 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1658717
heparin sodium, porcine 10000 UNT/ML Injectable Solution
Summed across the 7 of 42 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1362831
1000 ML heparin sodium, porcine 2 UNT/ML Injection
Summed across the 4 of 10 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1658690
1 ML heparin sodium, porcine 1000 UNT/ML Injection
Summed across the 2 of 13 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1658659
1 ML heparin sodium, porcine 10000 UNT/ML Injection
Summed across the 2 of 11 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1658637
2 ML heparin sodium, porcine 1000 UNT/ML Injection
Summed across the 4 of 17 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1658647
0.5 ML heparin sodium, porcine 10000 UNT/ML Cartridge
Summed across the 1 of 3 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1361853
500 ML heparin sodium, porcine 50 UNT/ML Injection
Summed across the 4 of 8 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1659195
0.5 ML heparin sodium, porcine 10000 UNT/ML Injection
Summed across the 2 of 6 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1658634
1 ML heparin sodium, porcine 5000 UNT/ML Prefilled Syringe
Summed across the 1 of 6 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1798389
heparin sodium, porcine 20000 UNT/ML Injectable Solution
Summed across the 3 of 18 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1361574
1 ML heparin sodium, porcine 5000 UNT/ML Cartridge
Summed across the 1 of 3 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1659260
500 ML heparin sodium, porcine 40 UNT/ML Injection
Summed across the 1 of 1 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1361607
0.5 ML heparin sodium, porcine 10000 UNT/ML Prefilled Syringe
Summed across the 2 of 8 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 2121591
250 ML heparin sodium, porcine 50 UNT/ML Injection
Summed across the 1 of 4 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1659197
Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.
Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Heparin, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 93 of 352 listed Heparin NDCs with Medicaid activity.
Compare Heparin products
A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Heparin — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)
| Strength | Route | Manufacturer / Labeler | Category ⓘ | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 💊Injection | ||||
| 200 [USP'U]/100 mL | Intravenous | B. Braun Medical Inc. | NDA | View NDC → |
| 5000 [USP'U]/100 mL | Intravenous | B. Braun Medical Inc. | NDA | View NDC → |
| 10000 [USP'U]/100 mL | Intravenous | B. Braun Medical Inc. | NDA | View NDC → |
| 200 [USP'U]/100 mL | Intravenous | Baxter Healthcare Corporation × 4 listings | NDA | View NDC → |
| 2000 [USP'U]/2 mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | BE Pharmaceuticals Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 5000 [USP'U]/0.5 mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | BE Pharmaceuticals Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 1000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Cardinal Health 107, LLC | NDA | View NDC → |
| 5000 [USP'U]/0.5 mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Cardinal Health 107, LLC | NDA | View NDC → |
| 5000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Cardinal Health 107, LLC × 2 listings | NDA | View NDC → |
| 5000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Cardinal Health 107, LLC × 2 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 10000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Cardinal Health 107, LLC | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 1000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Civica, Inc. | NDA | View NDC → |
| 5000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Civica, Inc. | NDA | View NDC → |
| 200 [USP'U]/100 mL | Intravenous | Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 1000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC × 3 listings | NDA | View NDC → |
| 5000 [USP'U]/0.5 mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC × 2 listings | NDA | View NDC → |
| 5000 [USP'U]/100 mL | Intravenous | Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC × 2 listings | NDA | View NDC → |
| 5000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 5000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC × 2 listings | NDA | View NDC → |
| 10000 [USP'U]/100 mL | Intravenous | Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC × 2 listings | NDA | View NDC → |
| 10000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC × 2 listings | NDA | View NDC → |
| 20000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC | NDA | View NDC → |
| 1000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Gland Pharma Limited × 2 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 5000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Gland Pharma Limited | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 1000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Henry Schein, Inc. | NDA | View NDC → |
| 5000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Henry Schein, Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 1000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Hepalink USA Inc. × 2 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 5000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Hepalink USA Inc. × 2 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 10000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Hepalink USA Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 20000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Hepalink USA Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 5000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | HF Acquisition Co LLC, DBA HealthFirst | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 10000 [USP'U]/100 mL | Intravenous | HF Acquisition Co LLC, DBA HealthFirst × 2 listings | NDA | View NDC → |
| 10000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | HF Acquisition Co LLC, DBA HealthFirst | NDA | View NDC → |
| 10000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | HF Acquisition Co LLC, DBA HealthFirst × 2 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 1000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. | NDA | View NDC → |
| 5000 [USP'U]/0.5 mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. | NDA | View NDC → |
| 5000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. × 2 listings | NDA | View NDC → |
| 10000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. | NDA | View NDC → |
| 200 [USP'U]/100 mL | Intravenous | Hospira, Inc. | NDA | View NDC → |
| 5000 [USP'U]/100 mL | Intravenous | Hospira, Inc. | NDA | View NDC → |
| 10000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Hospira, Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 1000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Medical Purchasing Solutions, LLC | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 1000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Medical Purchasing Solutions, LLC. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 1000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Meitheal Pharmaceuticals Inc. × 2 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 2000 [USP'U]/2 mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Meitheal Pharmaceuticals Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 5000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Meitheal Pharmaceuticals Inc. × 2 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 10000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Meitheal Pharmaceuticals Inc. × 2 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 20000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Meitheal Pharmaceuticals Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 1000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Mylan Institutional LLC | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 1000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | NorthStar RxLLC × 3 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 2000 [USP'U]/2 mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | NorthStar RxLLC | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 5000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | NorthStar RxLLC × 2 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 10000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | NorthStar RxLLC | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 20000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | NorthStar RxLLC | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 1000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Pfizer Laboratories Div Pfizer Inc | NDA | View NDC → |
| 5000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Plano Pharmaceuticals Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 5000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Remedyrepack Inc. | NDA | View NDC → |
| 1000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Sagent Pharmaceuticals | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 20000 [USP'U]/mL | Intravenous, Subcutaneous | Sagent Pharmaceuticals | ANDA | View NDC → |
Showing 83 of 119 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 119 Heparin NDCs →
Heparin side effects reported to the FDA (FAERS)
After a medicine reaches the market, patients, doctors and drugmakers can send the FDA reports of problems they think may be linked to it. Here’s what’s been reported for Heparin — a signal of what to watch for, not proof the drug caused it.
Source: openFDA, from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). These are voluntary reports — they don’t prove the drug caused the effect, and counts reflect how often something was reported, not how often it actually happens. Reports also often name the very problem the medicine is taken for — a common reason to file one is that the drug didn’t help — so for a pain reliever you may see “pain” high on the list; that points to why the report was filed, not to the drug causing the symptom. This counts every report that lists Heparin in any role, so the total runs higher than the FDA’s official dashboard, which counts only cases where the drug is the suspect. For the authoritative figures, see the FDA FAERS Public Dashboard. Always talk to your pharmacist or doctor.
Heparin FDA approval history
How Heparin went from FDA review to the pharmacy shelf — the key milestones in its regulatory journey.
Source: Drugs@FDA.
Heparin recall history
A recall is when a specific batch of a medicine is pulled from the market — usually a manufacturing issue, not a problem with the drug itself. Class I is most serious, Class III least.
The FDA’s enforcement reports list 3 Heparin recalls since July 2021. One of them is still ongoing and is listed first. A recall names specific lots from one company, so check the lot number on your own bottle rather than assuming every product is affected; your pharmacist can check whether your supply came from an affected lot.
- Heparin (Heparin Sodium in 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection), 2,000 units per 1,000 mL (2 units/mL), 1000 mL Sterile Single Dose Container, Rx Only, Baxter USA, NDC 0338-0433-04 Lots: Lot # N008235, Exp 8/31/2024 FDA record D-0649-2024 →
- Heparin Sodium Injection, USP, 20,000 USP units per mL, 25 x 1 mL Multi-Dose Vials, Rx Only, For Intravenous or Subcutaneous Use, Mfd. for: Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Schaumburg, IL 60195; Made in India… Lots: Lot#: WP201, Exp 2/2024 FDA record D-0435-2023 →
- Heparin Sodium 2,000, USP Units, per 1,000 mL (2 USP Units/mL) in 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, 1,000 mL bags, a) Case (NDC 0409-7620-59), b) Single Unit (NDC 0409-7620-49), Rx only, Distributed By… Lots: Lot: 5935283, Exp. 12/01/2023 FDA record D-0097-2023 →
Source: FDA enforcement (recall) reports, via openFDA; our copy was last updated Sep 24, 2026.
RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength
This page starts with one ingredient concept (IN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). Combination products remain separate concepts with their own pages.
RxCUI 5224 4 dose forms · 26 strengths
-
Dose form (SCDF) Cartridge RxCUI 1857949In current FDA listingsClinical drug / strength (SCD) 0.5 ML heparin sodium, porcine 10000 UNT/MLRxCUI 13618531 ML heparin sodium, porcine 5000 UNT/MLRxCUI 1659260 -
Dose form (SCDF) Injectable Solution RxCUI 1856275In current FDA listingsClinical drug / strength (SCD) calcium 25000 UNT/MLRxCUI 849760sodium, porcine 10 UNT/MLRxCUI 1361029sodium, porcine 100 UNT/MLRxCUI 1361048sodium, porcine 1000 UNT/MLRxCUI 1361226sodium, porcine 10000 UNT/MLRxCUI 1362831sodium, porcine 2 UNT/MLRxCUI 1362935sodium, porcine 20000 UNT/MLRxCUI 1361574sodium, porcine 5000 UNT/MLRxCUI 1361615 -
Dose form (SCDF) Injection RxCUI 1857598In current FDA listingsClinical drug / strength (SCD) 0.5 ML heparin sodium, porcine 10000 UNT/MLRxCUI 16586341 ML heparin sodium, porcine 1000 UNT/MLRxCUI 16586591 ML heparin sodium, porcine 10000 UNT/MLRxCUI 16586371 ML heparin sodium, porcine 5000 UNT/MLRxCUI 16592632 ML heparin sodium, porcine 1000 UNT/MLRxCUI 1658647250 ML heparin sodium, porcine 100 UNT/MLRxCUI 1658717250 ML heparin sodium, porcine 50 UNT/MLRxCUI 1659197500 ML heparin sodium, porcine 2 UNT/MLRxCUI 1658692500 ML heparin sodium, porcine 40 UNT/MLRxCUI 1361607500 ML heparin sodium, porcine 50 UNT/MLRxCUI 16591951000 ML heparin sodium, porcine 2 UNT/MLRxCUI 1658690 -
Dose form (SCDF) Prefilled Syringe RxCUI 1856278No current FDA listingClinical drug / strength (SCD) 0.5 ML heparin sodium, porcine 10000 UNT/MLRxCUI 21215911 ML heparin sodium, porcine 5000 UNT/MLRxCUI 17983892 ML heparin sodium, porcine 100 UNT/MLRxCUI 13620603 ML heparin sodium, porcine 100 UNT/MLRxCUI 13620623 ML heparin sodium, porcine 2000 UNT/MLRxCUI 1362067
Look up RxCUI 5224 in the RxCUI Atlas →
RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.
Heparin supply and shortage status
Whether Heparin is in short supply in the U.S. right now, plus any shortage history the FDA has on record. A shortage usually reflects a manufacturing or demand issue — not a safety problem with the drug.
Source: openFDA, from the FDA Drug Shortages database.
💵 What Heparin costs pharmacies (NADAC benchmark)
The national average invoice price pharmacies pay for the drug itself, from CMS's NADAC survey (data as of Sep 30, 2026). This is a supply-cost benchmark — not a retail price and not what you'd pay at the counter.
| Form | Strength | Pharmacy acquisition benchmark | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Injection, Solution · Intravenous; Subcutaneous | 5000 [USP'U]/0.5 mL | $5.90 per mL | NDC details & price history |
| Injection, Solution · Intravenous; Subcutaneous | 20000 [USP'U]/mL | $7.62 per mL | NDC details & price history |
| Injection · Intravenous, Subcutaneous | 5000 [USP'U]/mL | $1.18 per mL | NDC details & price history |
| Injection · Intravenous, Subcutaneous | 10000 [USP'U]/mL | $2.09 per mL | NDC details & price history |
| Injection · Intravenous, Subcutaneous | 20000 [USP'U]/mL | $7.62 per mL | NDC details & price history |
| Injection · Intravenous; Subcutaneous | 5000 [USP'U]/mL | $1.18 per mL | NDC details & price history |
| Injection · Intravenous; Subcutaneous | 10000 [USP'U]/mL | $2.09 per mL | NDC details & price history |
| Injection · Intravenous; Subcutaneous | 20000 [USP'U]/mL | $7.62 per mL | NDC details & price history |
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC), a survey of retail pharmacy invoice prices. Benchmarks shown are the range across package sizes of a representative product for each form and strength — other manufacturers' products may differ.
Heparin brand names
Heparin is sold under 2 brand names in the FDA directory — Heparin Sodium in Sodium Chloride, Heparin Sodium and Dextrose. A brand and its generic contain the same active ingredient; the brand name belongs to one company's product.
Who makes Heparin: manufacturers and labelers
24 companies list Heparin products with the FDA. By number of product records, the largest are Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC, NorthStar RxLLC, Hospira, Inc.. Labelers include manufacturers and repackagers; the product in your bottle depends on which one your pharmacy stocks.
Heparin drug class (RxNorm)
Heparin belongs to the Unfractionated Heparin class.
Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.
Sources for this Heparin page
Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.
How this page is built
HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records and does not author the underlying clinical facts. The plain-language sections are written with AI from the FDA-approved label text and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates. This is general education, not medical advice: always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own medicines. How we build and review drug pages →