Drug interactions
Defibrotide + Heparin
Severity: Contraindicated
Defibrotide and Heparin: contraindicated interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Defibrotide has profibrinolytic and antithrombotic activity, so combining it with heparin at anticoagulant doses raises hemorrhage risk. Labeling contraindicates concurrent systemic anticoagulant or fibrinolytic therapy.
What this interaction means in plain words
Defibrotide and Heparin are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two.
Defibrotide belongs to Cardiovascular; Heparin belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Additive pharmacodynamic effects on hemostasis.
What to do
Do not coadminister therapeutic heparin with defibrotide; hold anticoagulation during defibrotide treatment. Line-patency flushes are not affected.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there an alternative to one of these two medicines for me?
- If both are essential, who is monitoring me and how often?
- Which symptoms mean I should stop and seek help straight away?
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Other interactions of Heparin
- Heparin + Ketorolac Contraindicated
- Heparin + Oritavancin Contraindicated
- Acemetacin + Heparin Major
- Acetylsalicylic acid + Heparin Major
- Alteplase + Heparin Major
- Andexanet alfa + Heparin Major
Other interactions of Defibrotide
- Alteplase + Defibrotide Contraindicated
- Apixaban + Defibrotide Contraindicated
- Argatroban + Defibrotide Contraindicated
- Dabigatran etexilate + Defibrotide Contraindicated
- Dalteparin + Defibrotide Contraindicated
- Defibrotide + Edoxaban Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Defibrotide with Heparin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Defibrotide and Heparin are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two. Defibrotide has profibrinolytic and antithrombotic activity, so combining it with heparin at anticoagulant doses raises hemorrhage risk. Labeling contraindicates concurrent systemic anticoagulant or fibrinolytic therapy.
How serious is the interaction between Defibrotide and Heparin?
MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Do not coadminister therapeutic heparin with defibrotide; hold anticoagulation during defibrotide treatment. Line-patency flushes are not affected.
What other medicines interact with Heparin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Heparin with, for example, Ketorolac, Oritavancin, Acemetacin. The full list is on the Heparin page.
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