Patient Instructions: Heparin

Procedures For Using Heparin Or Lovanox

OPENING THE MEDICATION

1. Use a new sterile syringe and needle each time you inject.
2. Carefully flip the lid of the vial off.
3. Carefully twist the needle cover (clockwise to tighten needle on the syringe) off of the syringe. Do not touch the needle. If you do touch the needle, carefully recap the needle, twist the needle off and replace with a new needle. Twist the new needle on the syringe. Remove cover. Needles are no longer sterile when touched, if you touch the needle replace it with a sterile one.
• Draw the medication into the syringe using the following method.
• Wipe the top of the vial with alcohol swab. Do not touch the top after wiping with anything other than the needle.
• Insert the needle into the vial through the rubber stopper.
• Turn vial upside down without removing the needle. Withdraw the amount needed making sure the tip of the needle remains in the liquid.
• Withdraw the needle from the vial.
4. Tap the syringe with the needle pointed up to cause any air bubbles to rise.
5. You are now ready to administer the injection.

INJECTING THE MEDICATION

Subcutaneous Injections

1. Choose an injection site (abdomen, thigh, or upper arm) as shown in picture, and swab the area with alcohol. Allow to air dry.
2. Pinch a fold of skin with one hand and insert the syringe with the other hand.
3. Inject the entire solution by gently pushing the plunger all the way in until all the medication is injected.
4. Discard syringe and needle in your sharps container. If any bleeding occurs, apply gentle pressure.
5. Choose a different site each time you inject. Good sites for subcutaneous injections are the upper arm, the outer thigh, the hips and abdomen.

CLEAN UP

1. Discard used needles, syringes, ampules and vials in to your sharps container.
2. Your sharps container is classified as medical waste and must be disposed of properly. Ask your health care provider (doctor, nurse or pharmacist) about disposal when it is full.
3. Your injection material must be sterile and cannot be reused.
4. Never leave needles lying around where others can pick them up.
5. Never reuse a needle. Not only does a needle need to be sterile each time you use it, but today's needles are thinner and more delicate for greater comfort so reusing a needle can damage the tip and cause injury and greater pain.