Low molecular weight heparins are a group of drugs derived from heparin that are generally safer than normal heparin due to their lower risk of bleeding. In this mnemonic video, we'll cover the important facts you need to know about low molecular weight heparins so you'll be ready for the NCLEX. It's the holiday season and the parents are putting the final touches on their kids'presents.
They must have been good this year. Let's take a closer look at their presents. For the boy, an action figure with a little toy harpoon. If you've seen our video on heparin, you'd know that a harpoon is our recurring symbol for heparin.
It's the heparin harpoon. And since in this scene we have a little, tiny toy harpoon, that can serve as your memory anchor to today's topic. Low molecular weight heparins.
Get it? Because this toy harpoon is a smaller, miniature version of the real thing. Kind of like how low molecular weight heparins are a smaller, modified version of heparin. Now that you are anchored to this scene, let's move on to talk about the specific drug names of low molecular weight heparins that you might encounter on the NCLEX. As dad finishes up the gifts, mom is putting her feet up and relaxing, and there's no better way to relax on Christmas Eve than by drinking eggnog.
This eggnog should help you remember the drug name enoxaparin. You know, since eggnog sounds like enoxaparin. Enoxaparin is a low molecular weight heparin commonly called by its brand name lovanox, and you'll likely hear this name in clinical practice.
But for the NCLEX, make sure you remember the generic name of anoxaparin, since that's what will be on the test. Just remember the eggnog and you'll be set. Along with eggnog, the mom is indulging in some Christmas fondue.
This fondue should help you remember fondaparinux. You can even think of it as fonduparinux, if that helps. Fondaparinux is another drug that is not nearly as commonly used as anoxaparin, but you may still come across it on test day. For the pharmacology buffs out there, it's worth noting that Fondaparinux is technically not a low molecular weight heparin, but rather a related compound with a similar mechanism of action. Since Fondaparinux basically works in the exact same way, I think it's worth learning these drugs together.
There's one more drug name to know, so let's move on. For the little girl, Santa's bringing her a doll and a dollhouse. This doll should help you remember Daltaparin.
Get it? A doll for Daltaparin? Now that we know all the drug names, let's move on to the clinical uses of low molecular weight heparins. The last thing left to finish is painting the dollhouse red.
In order to get a nice smooth coat of paint, the dad is mixing paint thinner in with the red paint. After all, nobody likes painting with clumpy paint. The way the paint thinner keeps the blood red paint from clumping reminds me of how low molecular weight heparins work as blood thinners, preventing blood from clotting. See the connection? As a heparin derivative, low molecular weight heparins have a similar use to prevent blood clots.
However, low molecular weight heparins are synthetically engineered to be a lot more predictable in how they react in the body. For this reason, they don't require the intense blood level monitoring that is required with normal heparin therapy. But just like with normal heparin, the low molecular weight heparins are used to prevent blood clot formation in patients who are at an increased risk of developing blood clots. One of the most common clinical uses you'll encounter is patients who have recently had surgery and consequently have limited mobility, thereby increasing their risk of developing deep vein thrombosis, or DVT. Alright, with the clinical use mastered, let's move on to talk about some potential side effects.
As the mom reaches across the table to dip her bread in the fondue pot, she is knocking over a stack of plates. Maybe if she wasn't chugging eggnog at the same time, she could have prevented this accident. These falling plates should help you remember that low molecular weight heparins can cause lower platelets.
Get it? Falling plates for lowering platelets? The technical term for a low platelet count is thrombocytopenia.
Just like with normal heparin, low molecular weight heparins can cause a quick drop in platelet counts, in what is known as heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. It's a good idea to keep an eye on the patient's CBC to watch for low platelet levels. Although, this isn't nearly as common here as it is with patients taking normal heparin. The falling plates are shattering on the floor at the mom's feet, and the glass shards are cutting her legs, making her bleed. This can remind you that another potential side effect is bleeding.
Although, again, it's not nearly as big of a problem as with normal heparin. But this side effect should make sense. I mean, the purpose of low molecular weight heparins is to prevent the blood from clotting so you would expect the patient to bleed longer than normal while on blood thinners, right?
Like I mentioned before, no intense monitoring is needed for low molecular weight heparins, but it's still a good idea to keep an eye out for signs and symptoms of severe bleeding, as well as check in on the patient's CBC. Alright, that's all for this mnemonic. Let's recap. Low molecular weight heparins are a heparin derivative that include the drugs anoxaparin, fondaparinux, and daltaparin. They are used to prevent blood clots.
especially in post-surgery patients who are at an increased risk of DVTs due to limited mobility. Low molecular weight heparins are considered safer than normal or unfractionated heparin, although potential side effects include a lowered platelet count or thrombocytopenia, as well as bleeding. And now we're actually done with the low molecular weight heparins. Learning farm this easily is kind of like getting presents for the holidays, wouldn't you say? I'll see you in the next one.
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