Allergy to heparin ointment what to do?
Content
- Composition of the preparation
- Allergy Causes
- Allergy symptoms
- What to do if an allergic reaction occurs?
- Allergy treatment
When applied to the skin, heparin ointment has a complex effect: it eliminates pain, swelling and inflammation, and prevents the formation of blood clots. But when using this drug, the development of side effects is not excluded, since heparin actively affects the blood coagulation system. One of them is an allergy to Heparin ointment.
Manufacturers of medicines insist that each potential consumer should read the instructions before using any pharmaceutical product. It lists the indications and contraindications, possible side effects that can be avoided if you use the remedy as prescribed by the doctor, without resorting to self-activity.
Composition of the preparation
Components of Heparin Ointment:
- the active substance is heparin;
- base - petroleum jelly;
- auxiliary components: benzocaine, glycerin, benzyl nicotinate, peach oil, nipagin.
When applied to the skin, heparin begins to be released from the ointment, providing an active local anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant effect. Benzyl nicotinate promotes vasodilation, improving the absorption of heparin into the blood. Benzocaine acts as an analgesic. Thus, Heparin ointment has a complex therapeutic effect.
Allergy Causes
Heparin ointment is not a drug that can cause severe allergic reactions in a wide range of people. Usually this remedy is well tolerated by the body, without provoking any serious problems and unpleasant clinical manifestations, therefore it is considered to be harmless. But, despite this, in case of violation of the rules for using the drug, for example, its overdose, or an individual reaction of the body, sometimes it is not possible to avoid allergies.
Experts explain the occurrence of allergies by the ability of heparin to synthesize the hormone bradykinin. This substance can lead to tissue edema, the development of an inflammatory process, nasopharyngeal edema and even anaphylactic shock. All this is due to the pathological activity of mast cells, which, for their part, activate an even greater production of bradykinin. This can explain the allergic process that occurs in response to the use of the ointment.
It should be noted that not in all cases the negative reaction of the body is of an allergic origin. The instructions for the drug indicate that it contains nicotinic acid - benzyl nicotinate. This substance, when interacting with the skin, causes a violent reaction in some people, very similar to an allergic one. But in this case, the symptoms that arise immediately after applying the product to the skin go away rather quickly and do not require any intervention.
Allergy symptoms
The body's reaction to heparin is not excluded with the local administration of this ointment. This agent is prized for its anticoagulant properties, which prevent thrombosis and serious conditions such as stroke and myocardial infarction. Heparin ointment is prescribed for vascular diseases of the lower extremities of an inflammatory nature, for bruises, hematomas, hemorrhoids and other diseases.
But the initial use of the drug, less often for a long period, can provoke hypersensitivity organism to heparin - the active substance of the agent, which externally manifests itself in the form of an allergic contact dermatitis. Typically, individuals with individual heparin resistance are prone to this.
The main symptoms of an allergic reaction:
- hyperemia in the area of application of the ointment;
- swelling and irritation of the skin;
- severe itching;
- skin rashes, urticaria.
Anaphylactic shock when using Heparin ointment develops extremely rarely, usually its appearance is preceded by an injection of heparin. All symptoms of allergy to this drug disappear a few days after its withdrawal.
What to do if an allergic reaction occurs?
Many people, when faced for the first time with signs of an allergic reaction to Heparin Ointment, begin to panic, especially if this remedy has not previously caused any side effects. If these symptoms are not caused by the temporary effect of niacin and do not go away on their own, it is most likely an allergy. What to do in this case is up to a specialist to decide.
If an overdose of Heparin ointment is tolerated or recommendations for its use are neglected, allergic manifestations can persist for a long time.
The first thing to do: refuse further treatment with the drug, wash off the remnants of the product from the skin. After that, you need to contact an allergist to prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Allergy treatment
Regardless of the root cause of the pathology, the treatment of any type of allergy is not complete without the appointment of antihistamines.
| Drugs | Mechanism of action |
|---|---|
| Oral anti-allergic drugs: Suprastin, Zodak, Loratadin, etc. | They have a pronounced blocking effect on the production of histamine, which is intensively synthesized in the body after contact with irritants. The effect of antihistamines begins within 10 minutes after application. |
| Local antiallergic ointments: Bepanten, Advantan, Elokom, Hydrocortisone ointment, etc. | Apply to the affected area of the skin. These funds successfully eliminate the signs of the inflammatory process, as a result of which skin rashes, burning, itching and hyperemia disappear in a short time. |
If the Heparin ointment provoked an allergic reaction in the form of unbearable itching, swelling of the nasopharynx and problems with respiratory function, you should immediately call an ambulance. Before the arrival of doctors, it is recommended to offer the patient any antihistamine. Specialists must determine what medical attention he needs and what to do to prevent anaphylactic shock.
Allergy to Heparin Ointment cannot be attributed to common conditions, but sometimes this situation still occurs. Therefore, before using this drug, it is advisable to check how the body will react to it.
To this end, it is recommended to apply a thin layer of ointment to the inner surface of the wrist and wait for any changes to occur within the next 15 minutes. In the absence of redness and itching, the drug can be safely used in the future.
But we must not forget about the observance of the dosage and the scheme of application of the drug, according to the prescriptions of the attending physician.
