Indications for use:
(1) The patient is unable to take heparin (including low molecular weight forms).
(2) The patient is unable to take oral medications.
(3) The patient has severe gastrointestinal disease (malabsorption, diarrhea, other) that prevents adequate or reliable absorption.
(4) No other alternative anticoagulants available or appropriate.
Availability: 5.4 mg vial, which is reconstituted with 2.7 mL sterile water (2 mg/mL)
Dosing: similar to oral dosing, but usually lower due to complete bioavailability
Administration: slow injection into a peripheral vein.
Cautions:
(1) It should not be injected intramuscularly.
(2) It should not be administered with other drugs.
Monitoring:
(1) prothrombin time and INR (similar to oral form)
(2) hemoglobin (to detect bleeding)
(3) clinical exam (digital necrosis, excessive bruising, signs of bleeding)
