Low Molecular Weight Heparin
Pregnancy: B
Enoxaparin (Vascular)
Brand names: Clexane
Adult dose
Dose: Therapeutic: 1.5 mg/kg once daily or 1 mg/kg twice daily SC; Prophylactic: 40 mg once daily SC
Route: subcutaneous injection
Frequency: once or twice daily (therapeutic); once daily (prophylactic)
Max: 1.5 mg/kg/day (therapeutic)
Preferred over UFH for most VTE indications; syringe pre-filled; do NOT expel air bubble before injection
Paediatric dose
Dose: 1.5 mg/kg
Route: subcutaneous
Frequency: once daily (therapeutic); 0.5 mg/kg BD for neonates
Max: 1.5 mg/kg/day
Concentration: 100 mg/mL or 150 mg/mL prefilled syringes mg/ml
Neonates: 1.5 mg/kg BD; 2 months–18 years: 1 mg/kg BD; anti-Xa target: 0.5–1.0 units/mL (4h post-dose)
Dose adjustments
Renal
Reduce to 1 mg/kg once daily if eGFR <30 ml/min; anti-Xa monitoring required
Hepatic
Use with caution in severe hepatic impairment
Paediatric weight-based calculator
Neonates: 1.5 mg/kg BD; 2 months–18 years: 1 mg/kg BD; anti-Xa target: 0.5–1.0 units/mL (4h post-dose)
Clinical pearls
- Anti-Xa monitoring NOT routinely required for standard doses — measure 4h post-dose in renal impairment, extreme weights, pregnancy
- HIT: drop in platelets >50% or to <100 × 10⁹/L after heparin exposure — switch to argatroban/danaparoid
- Protamine only partially reverses LMWH (neutralises anti-IIa activity completely but only ~60% anti-Xa)
Contraindications
- Active major bleeding
- History of HIT (heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia)
- Recent haemorrhagic stroke
- Spinal anaesthesia/lumbar puncture with therapeutic doses
Side effects
- Bleeding
- Bruising at injection site
- HIT (1–5% — less than UFH)
- Hyperkalaemia (long-term)
- Osteoporosis (long-term)
Interactions
- NSAIDs/antiplatelets (increased bleeding)
- Thrombolytics (enhanced)
- Warfarin/DOACs (additive effect)
Monitoring
- FBC (platelets)
- Anti-Xa if renal impairment/extremes of weight/pregnancy
- Signs of bleeding
Reference: BNFc; BNF 86; BCSH guidelines; NICE NG158. Verify against your local formulary and the latest BNF before prescribing.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Calculators
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