Question

You are about to start a heparin IV infusion. The heparin protocol used in your hospital says that the first dose will always be 80 units/kg, then 18 units/kg/hr. Why not just start with the dosage of 18 units/kg/hr?

a) To prevent adverse effects associated with rapid infusion rates
b) A loading dose will help to achieve steady state sooner
c)The hospital protocol necessitates an initial higher dosage
d) To avoid clotting complications

Answer 1

A loading dose of heparin is used to achieve therapeutic drug levels in the patient's bloodstream quickly, facilitating the prevention of thromboembolic events, which is crucial in anticoagulant therapy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question refers to the administration of a heparin IV infusion and why a higher initial dose (loading dose) is used rather than the continuous infusion rate. The answer is b) A loading dose will help to achieve steady state sooner. The loading dose is given to quickly reach therapeutic levels of the medication in the bloodstream, thus ensuring efficacy of the treatment and minimizing the risk of clot formation.

Unlike an IV bag preparation, which requires dilution calculations, a loading dose is calculated based on patient weight and the pharmacokinetics of the drug. It allows therapeutic drug levels to be achieved without the delay that would occur if only the maintenance dose were given. This is crucial in preventing thromboembolic events when using anticoagulants like heparin.