Dalteparin
About Dalteparin
Dalteparin is a prescription injection primarily used to prevent and treat blood clots in the blood vessels, particularly in the deep veins of the legs (deep vein thrombosis) or the lungs (pulmonary embolism). It is also prescribed to reduce the risk of clot formation in individuals with unstable chest pain or after certain surgical procedures. By preventing existing clots from growing and stopping new ones from forming, it helps maintain smooth blood flow throughout your body.
This medication is typically injected once or twice daily, depending on your specific condition and your doctor's instructions. Because it is given as a subcutaneous injection (under the skin), it does not depend on food intake and can be injected at any time of day, but it must be taken at the same time each day for the best results. To support your treatment, it is helpful to stay hydrated, avoid sitting still for long periods, and gently flex your legs when resting.
While using Dalteparin, you may experience mild side effects such as minor pain, redness, or bruising at the injection site. However, you must contact your doctor immediately if you notice signs of serious bleeding, such as unusual bruising, nosebleeds, dark stools, or coughing up blood. Your doctor will monitor your blood count regularly to ensure the medication is working safely.
Before you start injecting Dalteparin, tell your doctor if you have a history of bleeding disorders, stomach ulcers, kidney problems, or low blood platelets. Do not inject this medicine if you have active major bleeding, a severe allergy to heparin products, or a recent history of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. It is also important to discuss if you have an upcoming spinal procedure, as this medicine can cause serious spinal complications in those cases.
Many medicines can interact with Dalteparin, especially other blood thinners, pain relievers like aspirin or ibuprofen, and certain herbal supplements, which can increase your risk of bleeding. You should also consult your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or elderly, as your dose may need careful adjustment. Avoid heavy alcohol use and smoking, as they can affect blood vessel health and complicate your treatment.
Uses of Dalteparin
Medicinal Benefits
Dalteparin provides reliable protection against life-threatening blood clots, helping you recover safely after surgery or during periods of limited mobility:
- Prevents Serious Complications: By keeping blood clots from travelling to vital organs like your lungs, it protects you from severe, sudden health emergencies.
- Supports Recovery After Surgery: It allows you to focus on healing after major operations, especially hip or knee replacements, without the fear of developing deep vein clots.
- Manages Chronic Conditions Safely: For cancer patients or individuals with ongoing heart conditions, it offers a consistent, long-term way to manage clotting risks and maintain active daily living.
Directions for Use
- Follow your doctor’s recommendations on the dosage and timing of this medication to achieve optimal results.
- Dalteparin will be administered by a healthcare professional.
- Do not self-administer.
Storage
Side Effects of Dalteparin
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Mild pain, bruising, redness, or swelling at the injection site
- Minor bleeding from small cuts or during brushing teeth
- Temporary hair loss (less common but possible)
- Mild skin irritation
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away):
- Signs of serious bleeding, such as persistent nosebleeds, blood in your urine, black or tarry stools, or coughing up blood
- Unusual, large, or dark bruises that appear without cause
- Sudden, severe headache, dizziness, weakness, or confusion
- A severe allergic reaction, which may cause hives, itching, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, and difficulty breathing
- Pain, warmth, or swelling in your lower leg (which may indicate a new clot)
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Check the liquid first: Always inspect the syringe before injecting. The liquid should be clear and colourless to pale yellow. Do not inject it if it is cloudy, contains particles, or is discoloured.
- Rotate injection sites: Inject in a different spot on your abdomen each time to prevent hard lumps, pain, or tissue damage from developing under your skin.
- Do not clear the air bubble: Unless your doctor or pharmacist tells you otherwise, do not expel the air bubble from the pre-filled syringe before injecting, as it helps prevent medicine loss and irritation at the site.
- Avoid rubbing the site: Press gently on the injection site with a clean tissue for a few seconds if needed, but do not rub it, as rubbing increases the risk of bruising and bleeding.
- Report upcoming procedures: Inform any surgeon, dentist, or healthcare provider that you are using Dalteparin well before any surgery, dental work, or medical procedure is scheduled.
- Never share needles: Always use a brand-new, sterile pre-filled syringe for every injection, and never share your medication or needles with anyone else.
Drug Interactions
Dalteparin may interact with certain medicines, increasing the risk of bleeding or affecting how well your treatment works. Inform your doctor about all prescription medicines, over-the-counter products, herbal supplements, and vitamins you are taking, including:
- Aspirin and other NSAIDs (like ibuprofen or naproxen): May increase the risk of severe stomach bleeding and interfere with blood clotting.
- Other blood thinners (like warfarin, apixaban, or rivaroxaban): May significantly raise the risk of serious, uncontrolled bleeding when used together.
- Antiplatelet drugs (like clopidogrel): Can compound the blood-thinning effect, making it much harder for bleeding to stop.
- Certain herbal supplements (like Ginkgo Biloba, Ginseng, or Garlic pills): May increase your vulnerability to bleeding.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid alcohol consumption while on treatment with Dalteparin as it may increase the risk of bleeding.
Pregnancy
cautionDalteparin is a Category C pregnancy drug and is given to pregnant women only if clearly needed and has more benefits than risks. Preservative-free forms are preferred in pregnant women as preservatives such as benzyl alcohol may cross the placenta.
Breast Feeding
cautionDalteparin is not recommended for use in breastfeeding. If you are breastfeeding, inform your doctor before receiving Dalteparin.
Driving
cautionDalteparin usually does not affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.
Liver
cautionInform your doctor if you have any pre-existing or a history of liver disease. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing Dalteparin. However, it is not recommended for patients with severe liver diseases.
Kidney
cautionInform your doctor if you have any pre-existing or a history of kidney diseases. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing Dalteparin. However, it is not recommended in patients with severe kidney diseases.
Children
cautionDalteparin should be given to children only if prescribed by a doctor.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Eat a stable diet: Maintain a consistent intake of foods rich in Vitamin K (like leafy greens), as sudden changes can affect how your blood clots, though this is less of an issue with Dalteparin than with oral blood thinners.
- Stay well-hydrated: Drinking plenty of water throughout the day helps maintain healthy blood circulation and reduces the risk of clot formation.
- Engage in gentle movement: Avoid prolonged sitting. If you travel or work at a desk, stand up to stretch or flex your calf muscles every hour to keep blood flowing in your legs.
- Choose soft-bristle toothbrushes: To minimise the risk of bleeding gums, use a soft toothbrush and waxed dental floss.
- Use an electric razor: Shave with an electric razor rather than a manual blade to lower your risk of skin cuts and subsequent bleeding.
- Wear supportive footwear: Wear supportive shoes and avoid walking barefoot to prevent foot injuries that could lead to hard-to-stop bleeding.
Special Advise
You should have a regular platelet count, factor V assay, fibrinogen level test, prothrombin time test (PT or PT-INR), and the INR, or international normalized ratio, to analyze your blood clotting time.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Blood clot: A blood clot is a clump of blood that has changed from a liquid to a gel-like or semisolid state. Blood clots are formed to stop bleeding that occurs due to tissue injury. Though blood clots are useful to stop bleeding, they may be harmful when abnormally formed within blood vessels as they block blood vessels and inhibit blood flow to essential organs such as the brain, heart or lungs and result in serious conditions.
Deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in legs): Deep vein thrombosis is a medical condition in which blood clots form in deep veins, usually in the legs. The symptoms include leg pain or swelling.
Pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lung): Pulmonary embolism is a condition that occurs as the blood clots break and travel to the lungs from deep veins in the legs or other parts of the body. The symptoms of pulmonary embolism include chest pain, cough and shortness of breath. Stroke is a condition where a blood clot restricts blood flow to your brain, causing brain cells to die and possibly resulting in permanent brain damage or death.
Heart attack: A heart attack is when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel supplying your heart, starving it of oxygen and causing chest pain and sometimes death. Quick medication is advised to reduce the risk of serious conditions due to blood clots.
FAQs
Dalteparin is used to prevent the risk of stroke, and heart attack in patients with atrial fibrillation (irregular heart rhythm) by reducing blood clot formation. Besides this, it is also used to prevent deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in leg veins) and pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lung) and reduces the risk of getting clots in people who have undergone knee or hip replacement surgeries.
Dalteparin contains Dalteparin, an anticoagulant (blood thinner) that inhibits the production of clotting factors Xa (a protein that causes clotting). It prevents the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin (a protein that binds platelets together and forms a clot) and helps prevent blood clot formation.
No, you are not recommended to take clopidogrel with Dalteparin as co-administration of these two medicines may increase the risk of bleeding more easily. However, if you notice blood in urine or stools, dizziness, unusual bleeding or bruising, vomiting, weakness or headache, please consult a doctor immediately. If you are supposed to use these medicines together, you are advised to contact your doctor so that the dose may be adjusted appropriately to use safely.
It is recommended to avoid taking grapefruit and grapefruit juice while taking Dalteparin. It contains compounds that slow down the metabolism of Dalteparin and increase the activity leading to bleeding.
Do not stop taking Dalteparin without consulting your doctor to worsen the condition. Therefore, take Dalteparin for as long as your doctor has prescribed it.
Yes, Dalteparin may increase potassium levels in the blood (hyperkalaemia), especially when given for a long period. Therefore, it is advised to inform your doctor if you are taking any medicines that increase potassium levels in the blood.
Yes, Dalteparin consists of Dalteparin is a blood-thinning agent and can increase the risk of bleeding. It is advised to be cautious during your daily activities like shaving, cutting fingernails or using sharp objects. Also, please consult your doctor beforehand if you undergo any surgery.
While Dalteparin is most commonly injected into the fat layer of your abdomen (stomach), your doctor may occasionally direct you to inject it into the thigh. Always follow the specific injection site instructions given by your healthcare provider. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure where to inject.
Mild bruising is a very common side effect of injecting Dalteparin. To help prevent this, do not rub or massage the area after injecting, and make sure to rotate your injection sites daily. If you notice unusually large, dark, or painful bruising, talk to your doctor.
No, you should avoid taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen while using Dalteparin. These medicines can irritate your stomach lining and thin your blood further, greatly increasing your risk of bleeding. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about safe pain relief alternatives.
You should limit or avoid alcohol while taking Dalteparin. Alcohol can affect your liver, increase the risk of stomach ulcers, and make you more prone to accidental falls or injuries that could cause serious bleeding. Talk to your doctor about what is safe for you.
Yes, your doctor will likely order regular blood tests to check your platelet levels and monitor how your kidneys are functioning while you use Dalteparin. This ensures the medication remains safe and effective for your body. Talk to your doctor for more details about your monitoring schedule.
Dalteparin is sometimes prescribed during pregnancy to prevent or treat blood clots. However, it requires close medical supervision and precise dosing adjustments, especially around the time of delivery. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Do not try to push the air bubble out of the pre-filled syringe before injecting Dalteparin. This bubble is specifically designed to remain in the syringe to ensure the entire dose of medicine is delivered and to prevent the drug from leaking out of the injection site. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for a demonstration on proper injection techniques.
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