How Effective is Lovenox & What are It’s Side Effects?

The usage of lovenox or enoxaparin could cause a severe blood clot in the spinal cord mainly if you have received spinal anesthesia otherwise known as epidural or undergone spinal tap mainly if you have spinal defect that is genetically or with history of repeated spinal taps or spinal surgery or if you are having any other medicine that also can affect blood clotting such as NSAIDs (advil, ibuprofen, aleve) or blood thinners. This kind of blood clot will only result in permanent or long term paralysis.

• Lovenox also known as enoxaparin that is an effective anticoagulant which helps in the prevention of blood clots
• Lovenox or enoxaparin is effectively used in the prevention and treatment of blood clot which is otherwise called as DVT (deep vein thrombosis). This is a condition which leads to pulmonary embolism, blood clot in lungs. DVT is most likely to occur in people who are prolonged bed ridden due to illness and in those who have had a surgery recently.
• Lovenox or enoxaparin is also effective used in the prevention of blood vessel complications in those suffering from different type’s chest pain or angina or heart attack.

Lovenox or enoxaparin should not be used if you less platelets level in blood or if you have active bleeding and also if you test positive for specific antibody while using lovenox or enoxaparin.

You must call your doctor immediately if you have any signs of spinal cord blood clot like muscle weakness in lower body, numbness, back pain, or loss of bowel or bladder control.

• Stay away from lovenox or enoxaparin, if you are allergic to benzyl alcohol, enoxaparin, pork products or heparin of if you have
• Less platelets level in blood even after using this medicine and testing positive for a certain antibody
• Uncontrolled or active bleeding

If you have any of these following conditions, lovenox or enoxaparin will make you bleed more

• Hemorrhagic stroke
• Recent spine, eye or brain surgery
• Inherited bleeding disorder or caused by any diseases
• Intestinal or stomach bleeding or ulcer
• Bacterial endocarditic ( an infection in the lining of the heart)

Lovenox or enoxaparin is more likely to cause severe blood clot in the spinal cord mainly if you receive epidural (spinal anesthesia) or undergo spinal tap. Also, this kind of blood clot can cause permanent or long term paralysis and this is highly possible if you have these problems

• You having a history of repeated spinal taps or spinal surgery
• If you have spinal cord injury
• If you have had a recent epidural anesthesia or spinal tap
• If you have a spinal catheter recently placed or removed
• If you are using medicines to prevent or treat blood clots
• If you are using blood thinner like Coumadin or warfarin
• If you are taking non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like naproxen (Aleve), meloxicam, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), indomethacin, diclofenac.

FDA pregnancy Category B: Lovenox or enoxaparin will not harm unborn child. There is some other form of this medicine which has preservatives which might harm unborn child. Therefore, it is important for you to tell your doctor if you are planning to become pregnant or pregnant at the time of treatment. If you are during while taking this medicine, then your doctor must know if you have mechanical heart valve.

Inform your doctor if you are breastfeeding your child as it is unknown if lovenox or enoxaparin can pass through breast milk and harm the child.

• Lovenox or enoxaparin is usually given on a daily basis until the condition improves. It is important to follow all the instructions mentioned in the prescription label. This medicine is not to be used in any amount of smaller or larger dosage than prescribed by your doctor.
• Lovenox or enoxaparin is given to the patient through IV injecting it under the skin. Your health care provider will show you a demo to use this medicine at home. You should not self-inject this medicine, if you are not sure about injecting it or in disposing the IV tube, needles, and other items used during the process.
• Do not inject lovenox or enoxaparin to your muscle. It is important to be in a lying down or sitting position while injecting lovenox or enoxaparin.
• It is also important to inject lovenox or enoxaparin at different places on your stomach for every time your inject it. Your doctor will suggest and show you the best places you can inject it on your body. It is not advisable to inject twice at the same place in a row.
• You must prepare the lovenox or enoxaparin dosage in syringe only when you are absolutely ready to take the injection yourself. This medicine should not be mixed with other medicines while taking the IV. If you see any particles or change of color do not use lovenox or enoxaparin and get a new medication.
• You must use the disposable needle only once and should not be reused again. You must also follow all the local and state laws in disposing the syringes and needles. You can ask your pharmacist or care provider a puncture proof sharps disposal container and how to dispose them as well. Make sure you keep this container away from pets and kids.
• You must tell all your health care providers that you are taking lovenox or enoxaparin. Also, you must tell in advance to your doctors if they are planning on conducting a surgery for dental or other reason in your body.
• You stool and blood movement must be checked very often while using lovenox or enoxaparin. Similarly, your muscle and nerve functions will also need to be tested regularly. Therefore do not skip any meeting with the doctor.

You must also get urgent medical help if you have any signs of spinal blood clot such as loss of bowel or bladder control, muscle weakness in lower body, numbness, or back pain.

Get urgent medical help if you have any of these following severe side effects of lovenox or enoxaparin:

• Red or purple pinpoint spots under skin, easy bruising
• Severe headache, problems with vision, speech or balance, sudden weakness, confusion
• Difficulty in breathing
• Coughing blood, bloody or black stools, vomit looking like coffee grounds
• Bleeding from needle injections or wounds, unusual bleeding from rectum, vagina, mouth, nose, or any bleeding in the body that does not stop
• Increased heart rate, short of breath, feeling light headed, pale skin, difficulty in concentrating

Here are some of the common side effects of lovenox or enoxaparin:

• Fever
• Irritation, mild pain, swelling or redness on skin where the medicine was injected
• Diarrhea, nausea are also a side effects of lovenox or enoxaparin
• Swelling in feet, or hands.