What is Hetastarch?
Hetastarch is made using natural sources of starch. Hetastarch can increase the amount of blood plasma lost due to bleeding or serious injury. Plasma is required to circulate the red blood cells, which deliver oxygen throughout your body.Hetastarch can be used to treat or even prevent hypovolemia. This is a decreased blood plasma volume (also called "shock") that may result from a serious injury, surgery, or severe blood loss.Hetastarch can be used in other ways not mentioned in this guide.
Side effect of Hetastarch
If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction, seek emergency medical attention: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your lips, face, tongue, or throat.
If you:
- Wheezing (or gasping for air), rapid breathing, shivering, and anxiety
- A feeling of lightheadedness, as if you could pass out.
- Slow breathing and a weak pulse
- Chest pain, fever, or cough.
- Easy bruising or bleeding that won't stop
Side Effects that may occur rarely but seriously include:
- Severe headache; vision or speech problems; mental changes
- Eyelids that droop, facial tremors or tremors, trouble swallowing,
- Severe skin reaction: fever (sore throat), swelling of the face, tongue, or eyes, burning pain in the skin, and then a reddish or purple rash that spreads to other parts of your body, especially your face and upper body, and results in blistering and peeling.
Hetastarch may harm your kidneys. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: swelling, rapid or unusual weight gain, nausea, or vomiting.
Hetastarch can cause a variety of side effects, including:
- Itching on the skin or mild
- Mild headache
- Muscle pain;
- Swollen glands, mild flu symptoms
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. Contact the FDA by dialing 1-800-FDA-1088 in order to report side effects.
Similar/related drugs
Hydroxyethyl Starch, Voluven
Warnings
This medication should not be taken if you suffer from a bleeding disorder or blood clotting problem, congestive heart failure, renal disease, or urination issues that are not caused by hypovolemia.Hetastarch is harmful to your kidneys. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: swelling, rapid or unusual weight gain, nausea, vomiting or feeling short of breath, red or pink colored urine, difficult or painful urination, or little or no urination.
Before you take this drug
This medication should not be given to you if:
- A bleeding or blood clotting disorder;
- Kidney disease
- Congestive heart failure;
- Hypovolemia is not the cause of urination issues (decreased plasma volume).
Tell your doctor, if possible, before receiving hetastarch if you:
- Liver disease
- A history of cardiovascular disease
- If you have an allergy to corn,
FDA pregnancy class C There is no information on whether hetastarch can harm a baby in utero. If you intend to get pregnant or are already expecting, be sure to inform your physician as soon as possible.Hetastarch is not known to pass into breast milk or whether it can harm a baby who is nursing. You should tell your doctor if you're breastfeeding a child.In an emergency, it may not be possible to inform your caregivers of your health condition, your pregnancy, or breastfeeding. Be sure to tell any doctor who is caring for you or your child that you've received heatstroke.
How to take Hetastarch?
Hetastarch can be injected through an IV into a vein. This injection will be given by a healthcare provider.While you receive hetastarch, your vital signs, such as breathing, blood pressure and oxygen levels, kidney function, and other vital indicators, will be closely monitored. You will need to have your blood tested every day during treatment.
Details on dosage
Usual Adult Dose for Hypovolemia:
Dosage for acute use in plasma volume expansion: 500–1000 mL IV
Maintenance dose: The total dosage and rate of the infusion are dependent on the hemoconcentration and amount of blood or plasma lost.
Maximum dose: Although higher doses are sometimes used for trauma and postoperative patients who have suffered severe blood loss, it is not recommended to exceed 1500 mL daily (approximately a dose of 20 mL/kg body weight).
Dosage for Leukapheresis: 250–700 mL of citrate anticoagulant added to venous blood and administered into the input line of the centrifugation apparatus in a ratio of 1:8–1:13.
Comments:
To ensure effective anticoagulation, citrate and hetastarch should be thoroughly combined.
The compatibility of the 500- to 560-mL admixtures with citrate concentrations as low as 2.5% is 24 hours.
Uses:
For treatment of hypovolemia where plasma volume expansion is required
This drug improves leukapheresis and increases the yield of granulocytes using centrifugal methods.
What happens if I miss the dose?
You are unlikely to miss a dose of hetastarch because you will be receiving it in a clinical environment.
What happens if I overdose?
Overdoses are unlikely because hetastarch will be administered by a health professional in a medical environment.
What should be avoided?
If your doctor prescribes any restrictions regarding food, beverage, or activity, follow their instructions.
Interaction with other drug
Hetastarch may interact with other drugs, such as vitamins and herbal products. Inform your healthcare providers of all the medicines you are taking and those you plan to take.
