Prevents blood clots from forming after hip or knee replacement or repair surgery. This medicine is an anticoagulant or "blood thinner."
Brand Names:
Arixtra
Contraindications:
You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to fondaparinux or excessive bleeding caused by this medicine, or if you have severe kidney disease, major bleeding, an infection involving your heart, or if you weigh less than 110 pounds
Uses:
Injectable
Your doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given as a shot under your skin.
A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine. It may also be given by a home health caregiver.
You may be taught how to give your medicine at home. Make sure you understand all instructions before giving yourself an injection. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to. Do not switch to any other blood thinner.
You will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas.
Use a new needle and syringe each time you inject your medicine.
Never share your medicine with anyone.
If a dose is missed:
If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose.
Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
Storage:
If you store this medicine at home, keep it at room temperature, away from heat and direct light.
Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.
Keep all medicine away from children
Special precautions:
Before taking, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any medications. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had heart failure or liver disease. tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking, call your doctor
Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using pain or arthritis medicine (such as aspirin, diclofenac, etodolac, ibuprofen, indomethacin, Advil®, Aleve®, Daypro®, Motrin®, Relafen®) or a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin®).
Warnings:
Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have bleeding problems, ulcers, a back injury, bleeding in your digestive system, uncontrolled high blood pressure, eye problems caused by diabetes, or a history of stroke or bleeding caused by heparin. Make sure your doctor knows if you are over 75 years old or if you have recently had brain, back, or eye surgery.
This medicine may cause bleeding problems. This risk is higher if you have a catheter in your back for administering pain medicine or anesthesia (sometimes called an "epidural") or if you have kidney problems. The risk of bleeding increases as the severity of the kidney problems increases. Discuss this with your doctor if you are concerned.
Your doctor will need to check your blood or stools at regular visits while you are using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments.
The blood thinning effects of this medicine may last for up to 4 days after you stop using fondaparinux.
Side Effects:
Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
Numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands, arms, legs, or feet
Rapid weight gain
Sudden or severe headache, dizziness, trouble seeing
Swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet
Unusual back pain
Unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness
Fever
Mild redness, bleeding, itching, or rash where the shot is given
