What Is Heparin?

What the MDL and Mass Tort Attorneys of Our Firm Want You to Know About the Heparin Lawsuit

Discovered in 1916, Heparin is one of the oldest drugs still in widespread clinical use throughout the world. Heparin first began making national news for possible hazards to the health of patients in 2007, when four children suffered serious adverse reactions to Heparin during their dialysis treatments. Around this time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as well as our multidistrict litigation (MDL) attorneys began investigating and closely following these claims.

When hundreds of other cases regarding individuals sustaining similar reactions to the dangerous drug Heparin began to appear, one of the leading Heparin manufacturing companies, Baxter Healthcare, voluntarily decided to recall nine lots of the drug as a precaution. However, in March 2008, the FDA reported that the Heparin issue was not with the nine drug recall lots or dosages of the drug as previously thought, but with contaminated shipments of Heparin from China.

Our firm is experienced with legal issues victims of Heparin side effects have faced when pursuing damages from negligent drug companies. If a defective drug or medical device affected you or someone you love, it is in your best interest to seek legal counsel to ensure your rights. You can contact the drug injury law firm of Zoll & Kranz, LLC by calling (888) 841-9623 today to learn more about your ability to recover compensation from the Heparin lawsuit.

Why is Heparin Used?

Heparin is a prescription drug in a class of medications called anticoagulants, also known as blood thinners. Heparin works by decreasing the clotting ability of the blood, thereby preventing the formation of clots as well as preventing existing clots from fatally moving throughout the bloodstream. Most physicians administer intravenous Heparin to decrease the chance of clots forming in patients undergoing certain medical procedures, such as:

• During cardiac surgery
• Preventing the formation of clots in catheters
• Kidney dialysis
• Treatment for pulmonary embolism
• Other blood conditions

Side Effects of Contaminated Heparin

The intestines of slaughtered pigs contain crude Heparin, and at this stage the drug needs careful extraction or else it can become contaminated or spoiled. Individuals who received contaminated Heparin may experience any of the following allergic reactions or symptoms:

• Chest pain
• Stomach pain
• Low blood pressure
• Decreased skin sensitivity
• Burning or other abnormal sensations
• Other severe or life threatening side effects

Our Firm Provides Additional Information Regarding Heparin

The links below can also be useful resources for individuals interested in learning about the medication Heparin:

• Heparin by Wikipedia
• Heparin by the Encyclopedia Britannica
• Consumer Reports on Heparin
• Medline Plus on Heparin

Call (888) 841-9623 to contact our MDL and class action lawyers for more information about the ongoing Heparin lawsuit and your ability to recover damages caused by the negligent drug manufacturer.