Trade names Prosulf, others Onset of action 5 minutes DrugBank 09141 | AHFS/Drugs.com Monograph CAS Number 9009-65-8 | |
Pregnancy
category US: C (Risk not ruled out) | ||
1060 protamine sulfate or fresh frozen plasma
Protamine sulfate is a medication that is used to reverse the effects of heparin. It is specifically used in heparin overdose, in low molecular weight heparin overdose, and to reverse the effects of heparin during delivery. It is given by injection into a vein. The onset of effects is typically within five minutes.
Contents
- 1060 protamine sulfate or fresh frozen plasma
- 1139 protamine sulfate or fresh frozen plasma
- Medical uses
- Dosage
- Adverse effects
- Mechanism
- History
- References
Common side effects include low blood pressure, slow heart rate, allergic reactions, and vomiting. Allergic reactions may be severe and include anaphylaxis. The risk is greater in males who have had a vasectomy. While there is no evidence of harm from using during pregnancy it has not been well studied in this group. Protamine works by binding with heparin.
Protamine sulfate was approved for medical use in the United States in 1969. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system.The wholesale cost in the developing world is about 2.82 to 12.20 USD per vial. It was originally made from salmon sperm.
1139 protamine sulfate or fresh frozen plasma
Medical uses
Protamine sulfate is usually administered to reverse the large dose of heparin administered during certain surgeries, especially heart surgery. A dose of protamine is given when the patient is off - pump, when extracorporeal circulation and anticoagulation are no longer needed.
It is also used in gene transfer, protein purification and in tissue cultures as a crosslinker for viral transduction.
In gene therapy, protamine sulfate has been studied as a means to increase transduction rates by both viral and nonviral (e.g. utilizing cationic lipids) mediated delivery mechanisms.
Dosage
Dosage for heparin reversal is 1.0 -to- 1.5 mg protamine sulfate IV for every 100 IU of active heparin, not to exceed 50 mg. PTT should be monitored at 5–15 minutes after dose then in 2–8 hours afterward.
Adverse effects
Protamine has been reported to cause allergic reactions in patients who are allergic to fish, diabetics using insulin preparations containing protamine, and vasectomized or infertile men. These occur at rates ranging from 0.28% to 6%.
Avoiding rapid infusion of protamine sulfate and pre-treating at-risk patients with histamine receptor antagonists (H1 and H2) and steroids may minimize these reactions. A 5-10 mg test dose is recommended following pretreatment before administering the full dose.
Mechanism
It is a highly cationic peptide that binds to either heparin or low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) to form a stable ion pair, which does not have anticoagulant activity. The ionic complex is then removed and broken down by the reticuloendothelial system. In large doses, protamine sulfate may also have an independent—however weak—anticoagulant effect.
History
Protamine was originally isolated from the sperm of salmon and other species of fish but is now produced primarily through recombinant biotechnology.