Complete adverse effect profile including incidence rates and management
Important Safety Information
This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Contact your healthcare provider if you experience any unexpected symptoms. For serious or life-threatening side effects, seek emergency medical attention immediately.
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following serious adverse reactions are also discussed in other sections of the labeling: • Spinal/epidural hematomas [see Boxed Warning and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] • Increased Risk of Hemorrhage [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] • Thrombocytopenia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] Most common adverse reactions (>1%) were bleeding, anemia, thrombocytopenia, elevation of serum aminotransferase, diarrhea, nausea, ecchymosis, fever, edema, peripheral edema, dyspnea, confusion, and injection site pain ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact NorthStar at 1-800-206-7821 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice.
During clinical development for the approved indications, 15,918 patients were exposed to enoxaparin sodium.
These included 1,228 for prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis following abdominal surgery in patients at risk for thromboembolic complications, 1,368 for prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis following hip or knee replacement surgery, 711 for prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis in medical patients with severely restricted mobility during acute illness, 1,578 for prophylaxis of ischemic complications in unstable angina and non – Q-wave myocardial infarction, 10,176 for treatment of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction, and 857 for treatment of deep vein thrombosis with or without pulmonary embolism.
Enoxaparin sodium doses in the clinical trials for prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis following abdominal or hip or knee replacement surgery or in medical patients with severely restricted mobility during acute illness ranged from 40 mg subcutaneously once daily to 30 mg subcutaneously twice daily.
In the clinical studies for prophylaxis of ischemic complications of unstable angina and non – Q-wave myocardial infarction doses were 1 mg/kg every 12 hours and in the clinical studies for treatment of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction enoxaparin sodium doses were a 30 mg intravenous bolus followed by 1 mg/kg every 12 hours subcutaneously.
Hemorrhage The following rates of major bleeding events have been reported during clinical trials with enoxaparin sodium (see Tables 2 to 7).
Table 2: Major Bleeding Episodes following Abdominal and Colorectal Surgery* Indications Dosing Regimen Enoxaparin Sodium 40 mg -daily subcutaneously Heparin 5000 U q8h subcutaneously Abdominal Surgery n=555 23 (4%) n=560 16 (3%) Colorectal Surgery n=673 28 (4%) n=674 21 (3%) *Bleeding complications were considered major: (1) if the hemorrhage caused a significant clinical event, or (2) if accompanied by a hemoglobin decrease ≥2 g/dL or transfusion of 2 or more units of blood products.
Retroperitoneal, intraocular, and intracranial hemorrhages were always considered major.
Table 3: Major Bleeding Episodes Following Hip or Knee Replacement Surgery* Indications Dosing Regimen Enoxaparin Sodium 40 mg daily subcutaneously Enoxaparin Sodium 30 mg q12h subcutaneously Heparin 15,000 U/24h subcutaneously Hip Replacement Surgery without Extended Prophylaxis † – n=786 31 (4%) n=541 32 (6%) Hip Replacement Surgery with Extended Prophylaxis Peri-operative Period ‡ Extended Prophylaxis Period § – – – n=288 4 (2%) – – n=221 0 (0%) – – Knee Replacement Surgery without Extended Prophylaxis † – n=294 3 (1%) n=225 3 (1%) * Bleeding complications were considered major: (1) if the hemorrhage caused a significant clinical event, or (2) if accompanied by a hemoglobin decrease ≥2 g/dL or transfusion of 2 or more units of blood products.
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Increased risk of hemorrhage: Monitor for signs of bleeding ( 5.1 , 5.2 , 5.3 ) Risk of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia with or without Thrombosis ( 5.4 ) Thrombocytopenia: Monitor platelet count closely ( 5.5 ) Interchangeability with other heparins: Do not exchange with heparin or other LMWHs ( 5.6 ) Increased Risk of Thrombosis in Pregnant women with Mechanical Prosthetic Heart Valves: women and their fetuses may be at increased risk.
Monitor more frequently and adjust dosage as needed.
( 5.7 ) 5.1 Increased Risk of Hemorrhage Cases of epidural or spinal hemorrhage and subsequent hematomas have been reported with the use of enoxaparin sodium and epidural or spinal anesthesia/analgesia or spinal puncture procedures, resulting in long-term or permanent paralysis.
The risk of these events is higher with the use of postoperative indwelling epidural catheters, with the concomitant use of additional drugs affecting hemostasis such as NSAIDs, with traumatic or repeated epidural or spinal puncture, or in patients with a history of spinal surgery or spinal deformity [see Boxed Warning, Adverse Reactions (6.2) and Drug Interactions (7) ] .
To reduce the potential risk of bleeding associated with the concurrent use of enoxaparin sodium and epidural or spinal anesthesia/analgesia or spinal puncture, consider the pharmacokinetic profile of enoxaparin [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] .
Like all medications, Enoxaparin Sodium can cause side effects. However, not everyone who takes this medication will experience them. Many side effects are dose-dependent and may improve as your body adjusts to the medication. Others may require dose adjustment or medical attention.
Contact your healthcare provider promptly if you experience:
Seek immediate emergency medical care if you experience signs of: