Lovenox injections?

Question

I have been having a lot of breathing problems and was recently hospitalized. I have mitral valve prolapse and congestive heart failure. I am on all types of meds..digoxin, toprol, aspirin...and this week the dr put me on protonix and Lovenox injections. i have never given myself injections before and it hurts like hell. is there any way to make this easier?

Answer 1

You could teach someone else to inject you...

Answer 2

I would ask a trusted person to help.. if you don't want to watch the needle going in but as far as not being so painful try thighs and abdomen if it is ok w/ your dr. also rotate site frequently and keep a good record of where you had the last injection. Don't use ice before because it will delay absorbtion of the meds.

Answer 3

Afraid that these do sting. The belly is the easiest place to inject, by grabbing a fatty part and injecting there. Make sure to do this slowly to help avoid bruising, though having done this many times myself, I tend to be quick. These injections can mean life or death, so keep that in mind. I have hyper coagulation and am on anti-coagulants for life. Make sure that they run tests for clotting disorders.
Best wishes

Answer 4

The medication is painful but it sounds like it is nessicary for you. find different spots for it. Some may work better than others. Sorry no real pain relieving answer

Answer 5

Enoxaparin is a low molecular weight heparin manufactured by Sanofi-Aventis. It is marketed as Lovenox or Clexane.

Enoxaparin is used to prevent and treat deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, and is given as a subcutaneous injection (by a health care provider or the patient). Its use is evolving in acute coronary syndromes.

In the UK, enoxaparin is approved for five indications:

* The prophylaxis of thromboembolism disorders of venous origin, in particular those which may be associated with orthopaedic surgery.
* The prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in medical patients bedridden due to acute illness.
* The treatment of venous thromboembolism disease (VTED) presenting with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE) or both.
* The treatment of unstable angina (UA) and non-Q-wave myocardial infarction (NQMI), administered concurrently with aspirin.
* The prevention of thrombus formation in the extracorpreal circulation during haemodialysis.

In France enoxaparin is often used for the prophylaxis of thromboembolism disorders of venous origin when casts are used to immobilize bone fractures.

Mechanism of Action

Enoxaparin binds to and accelerates the activity of Antithrombin III. By activating Antithrombin III enoxaparin preferentially potentiates the inhibition of coagulation factors Xa and IIa. The anticoagulant effect of enoxaparin can be directly correlated to its ability to inhibit factor Xa. Factor Xa catalyzes the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin, so enoxaparin’s inhibition of this process results in decreased thrombin and ultimately the prevention of fibrin clot formation.

[edit] Monitoring

* INR, PT, CBC with platelets, aPTT (not as useful as in Heparin)

[edit] Pregnancy

* Category B

[edit] Side effects

* Bleeding
* Thrombocytopenia, i.e. can be associated with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
* Pain, bruising or irritation; hard, inflamed nodules or an itchy red rash at the injection site
* Symptoms similar to those of hayfever
* Abdominal/chest pain
* Headache

[edit] Reversal Agent

* Protamine, although not as effective at reversal as it is for Heparin due to more activity at the Xa clotting factor (Enoxaparin); as Heparin has both Xa and IIa.

[edit] Availablitity

100mg/mL

* Prefilled Syringes: 30mg/0.3mL, 40mg/0.4mL
* Graduated Prefilled Syringes: 60mg/0.6mL, 80mg/0.8mL, 100mg/1mL
* Multiple Dose Vials: 300mg/3.0mL

150mg/mL

* Graduated Prefilled Syringes: 120mg/0.8mL, 150mg/1mL