Health Canada warns on decreased heparin potency
November 26, 2009
THE CANADIAN PRESS
Health Canada is informing Canadians who use the blood thinner heparin as well as health-care professionals that certain heparin products will soon undergo a reduction in potency.
The department says recent changes to heparin manufacturing standards in the United States will lead to a potency decrease in some products of about 10 per cent.
Heparin is a common anti-clotting drug mainly used in health-care settings such as hospitals.
Most heparin products on the Canadian market use the same potency standard as is used in the U.S., so the changes there will affect products in this country too.
Health Canada says patients needing heparin may notice they are receiving a higher-than-usual dose or number of units of heparin, or are asked to submit to additional post-use monitoring.
The change is being phased in over two years starting from next month and Health Canada is working with manufacturers to ensure products made under the new standards are clearly labelled.
thestar.com
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