Baxter Heparin Drug Recall

The use of the blood thinner drug Heparin made by Baxter International Inc., has been linked to an anaphylactic reaction which causes a profound drop in blood pressure, difficulty breathing and sometimes vomiting. This adverse reaction happens within a few seconds of the injection of the drug, and can be fatal. This reaction is not the same as Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

The FDA updated its report of deaths associated with Heparin use from 19 to 62 deaths on April 8, 2008. Additionally, hundreds of severe allergic reactions have also been linked to contaminated Heparin. In the latest statistics on Heparin-related fatalities, the FDA's month-by-month adverse Heparin event reports show that 47 of the 62 deaths occcured between November and February

Yes – I have inquired with Johns Hopkins on the type of Heparin they use on Haven. JH uses the USA made Heparin not the China made Heparin from Baxter. They have not had any issues. I actually saw this on the news while in the hospital and was able to grab someone immediately because we were about to use it on Friday last week. It's not like people who are sick and need these medications don't have enough to worry about all ready! But Haven is fine.