Introduction About CATHFLUSH INJECTION

CATHFLUSH INJECTIONcontains Heparin which belongs to the group of medicines called Anticoagulants. It is used to manage blood clots in leg veins (deep vein thrombosis), blood clots in the lung (pulmonary embolism), chest pains resulting from disease of the heart arteries (unstable angina pectoris), severe blockages affecting arteries in the legs (acute peripheral arterial occlusion).

CATHFLUSH INJECTION is also used during heart, lung operations, during kidney dialysis and management of blood clots in the heart following a heart attack (mural thrombosis). A blood clot or thrombus is a gel-like collection of blood that form in arteries or veins when blood changes from liquid to partially solid form.

CATHFLUSH INJECTION is not recommended for use if you have liver disease, serious bleeding problems, haemophilia, bruise easily, high blood pressure, tuberculosis, major trauma, have had severe skin problems resulting from previous heparin management, surgery of the brain, spine or eye, a lumbar puncture or receiving anesthetic, had an operation, thrombocytopenia, bleeding into the brain, drink a lot of alcohol.

Before receiving CATHFLUSH INJECTIONinform your doctor if you have kidney disease, diabetes, a condition that makes you bleed easily, or suffer from excess acid or high levels of potassium in your blood. Do not consume alcohol, tobacco, or smoke during this management.

CATHFLUSH INJECTION should be used with caution in pregnant and breastfeeding women. CATHFLUSH INJECTION is not recommended for use in premature and newborn babies (up to 4 weeks old). Ask for your doctor’s advice.

CATHFLUSH INJECTION should be used with caution in elderly patients above 60 years of age. The most common side effects of receiving CATHFLUSH INJECTION are red lumps or red, itchy patches like eczema at injection site. Consult your doctor if symptoms do not show improvement.

Uses Of CATHFLUSH INJECTION

To manage,

• deep vein thrombosis
• pulmonary embolism
• acute peripheral arterial occlusion
• unstable angina pectoris
• prevent clots during heart, lung operations, kidney dialysis
• mural thrombosis

How CATHFLUSH INJECTION Works

CATHFLUSH INJECTION binds to the antithrombin (an enzyme present in the clotting system) which in turn inhibits several clotting factors such as factor Xa, factor IIa. This inactivation of thrombin manages the formation of clots and prolongs the clotting time of blood.

How to use CATHFLUSH INJECTION

CATHFLUSH INJECTION will be given to you only by a doctor or a nurse into a vein as an intravenous infusion. It should not be given into a muscle. Your doctor will decide the right dose and duration depending on your age, body weight and disease condition.

Side Effects Of CATHFLUSH INJECTION

How To Manage Side Effects

Itchy skin:

Hot water makes your skin irritated, so avoid taking hot showers. Do not scratch the affected area. Use sunscreen and protective clothing when outdoors. To soothe and hydrate irritated skin, apply moisturizers. Contact your doctor if the itching worsens.

Warning & Precautions

Pregnancy

CATHFLUSH INJECTION should be used with caution in pregnant women. Inform your doctor or nurse know prior to receiving CATHFLUSH INJECTION if you are pregnant, wish to become pregnant or have a history of, or known risk to miscarriage. If CATHFLUSH INJECTION is given, bleeding may be a problem during pregnancy or after delivery. Your bones may get thinner if you receive CATHFLUSH INJECTION for a long-time during pregnancy. If you are pregnant and are going to have an epidural anesthetic, you should stop having the medicine. Consult your doctor before receiving it.

Breastfeeding

CATHFLUSH INJECTION should be used with caution in breastfeeding women as it will be given to you after evaluating the risk and benefit ratio. Consult your doctor before receiving it.

Driving and Using Machines

CATHFLUSH INJECTION does not affect your ability to drive or use machines.

Alcohol

Do not consume alcohol while receiving CATHFLUSH INJECTION.

Kidney

CATHFLUSH INJECTION should be used with caution patients having kidney disease, dose will be adjusted by your doctor. Consult your doctor before receiving it.

Liver

CATHFLUSH INJECTIONis not recommended for use in patients who suffer from severe liver problems which can lead to bleeding into the esophagus. CATHFLUSH INJECTION should be used with caution in mild to moderate liver disease, dose will be adjusted by your doctor. Consult with your doctor before receiving CATHFLUSH INJECTION.

Allergy

Do not receive CATHFLUSH INJECTION if you are allergic to Heparin or any other ingredients of this medicine.

Interactions

A. Drug - Drug interactions:

Before receiving CATHFLUSH INJECTION, inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicine:

• medicines used to manage pain and inflammation (Ex. diclofenac (especially intravenous), ibuprofen, aspirin)
• medicines used to manage shock (Ex. dextran solutions)
• medicines which may interfere with clotting of the blood (Ex. dipyridamole, epoprostenol, clopidogrel or streptokinase)
• medicines used to manage infections (Ex. cephalosporins, gentamicin, amikacin, neomycin or tobramycin)
• medicines used to manage high blood pressure or heart problems (Ex. captopril enalapril, lisinopril, ramipril, losartan or valsartan, aliskiren)
• medicines that may increase the potassium level in blood (Ex. amiloride, triamterene, eplerenone or spironolactone)
• glyceryl trinitrate given into a vein (used for coronary heart disease)
• medicines used to manage gout (Ex. probenecid)

Overdosage:

CATHFLUSH INJECTION will be administered to you only by a doctor or a nurse in a hospital, and so it is unlikely to receive an overdose. However, consult your doctor or nurse if you experience any unusual symptoms like severe bleeding.

Synopsis

More Information

• Keep CATHFLUSH INJECTION out of reach of children
• Store CATHFLUSH INJECTION at room temperature below 25°C

FAQs About CATHFLUSH INJECTION

Can CATHFLUSH INJECTION be received by children?

CATHFLUSH INJECTION is not recommended for use in premature and newborn babies (up to 4 weeks old). Dose will be adjusted by your doctor depending on your age, body weight and disease condition. Consult your doctor before receiving

Can CATHFLUSH INJECTION be received by pregnant women?

CATHFLUSH INJECTION should be used with caution in pregnant women. Inform your doctor or nurse know prior to receiving CATHFLUSH INJECTION if you are pregnant, wish to become pregnant or have a history of, or known risk to miscarriage. If CATHFLUSH INJECTION is given, bleeding may be a problem during pregnancy or after delivery. Your bones may get thinner if you receive CATHFLUSH INJECTION for a long-time during pregnancy. If you are pregnant and are going to have an epidural anesthetic, you should stop having the medicine. Consult your doctor before receiving it.

Can I smoke while receiving CATHFLUSH INJECTION?

Avoid smoking while receiving CATHFLUSH INJECTION. Tobacco smoke can also interfere with the working of CATHFLUSH INJECTION. Ask for your doctor’s advice and inform your doctor if you smoke.

Can I Keep receiving CATHFLUSH INJECTION if I have a planned surgery?

You must remind your doctor that you are having CATHFLUSH INJECTION before you receive any anesthetic. After you have the anesthetic your doctor or nurse might make regular checks to make sure you are not getting any major bleeding or bruising around your spine which may cause paralysis that could be permanent. After you have the anesthetic, your doctor will tell you when you can take CATHFLUSH INJECTION again.

Do I need to undergo any diagnostic tests while receiving CATHFLUSH INJECTION?

The presence of CATHFLUSH INJECTION in the blood can affect the results of some blood tests such as thyroid tests and the levels of calcium or some antibiotics such as gentamicin in the blood. Your doctor might ask you to take several diagnostic tests.

Will I be given a test dose of CATHFLUSH INJECTION?

If you suffer from allergies or have previously had an allergic reaction to heparin, a small test dose of CATHFLUSH INJECTION may be given first to make sure that you are not allergic to it.

References

1. KD Tripathi. Drugs Affecting Coagulation, Bleeding and Thrombosis. Essentials of medical pharmacology. Eighth Edition. 2019. Page –663-664

2. Mandana Izadpanah, Hossein Khalili, Mostafa Mohammadi. Comparing safety of heparin as continuous intravenous infusion and multiple subcutaneous injections. NIH National Library of Medicine, National Centre for Biotechnology Information. Pubmed.gov. December 2015. [Accessed on 10th August 2022] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26689885/

3. Eziafa, Oduah, Robert J. Linhardt, and Susan T. Sharfstein. Heparin: Past, Present, and Future. NIH National Library of Medicine, National Centre for Biotechnology Information. Pubmed Central. September 2016. [Accessed on 10th August 2022] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5039491/

4. CP Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC). [Revised in June 2018] [Accessed on 10th August 2022] https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.1678.pdf

5. CP Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC). [Revised in June 2018] [Accessed on 10th August 2022] https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.1680.pdf

6. Fresenius Kabi. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. [Revised in August 2017] [Accessed on 10th August 2022] https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/017029s140lbl.pdf

7. Pfizer Laboratories Div Pfizer Inc. Heparin Sodium. Dailymed. [Revised in May 2020]. [Accessed on 10th August 2022] https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=56dc3074-f1c5-45a3-b923-f1d14858e06d

8. Troikaa Pharmaceuticals. Cathflush (Heparin Sodium). [Accessed on 10th August 2022] https://www.troikaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Common-Products-List-Novogen-Excluded.pdf

9. Drug bank. Heparin. [Accessed on 10th August 2022] https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB01109

Useful Diagnostic Tests

• Blood tests
• Thyroid Test
• Serum Calcium
• Prothrombin Time