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Nursing QUESTION #9288
Question 1

A patient is receiving heparin infusion for DVT. The nurse notes signs of overdose. Which antidote should be prepared?

  • Vitamin K (phytonadione)

  • Protamine sulfate

    ✔️

  • Naloxone

  • Flumazenil

Correct Answer Explanation

Antidotes for anticoagulants:

Anticoagulant Antidote
Heparin (unfractionated) Protamine sulfate
Warfarin Vitamin K (phytonadione) / Fresh Frozen Plasma
Dabigatran (novel oral anticoagulant) Idarucizumab
Rivaroxaban/Apixaban Andexanet alfa

Protamine sulfate is a positively charged protein that binds and neutralizes negatively charged heparin. Signs of heparin overdose: unusual bleeding, hematuria, petechiae, prolonged aPTT. Monitoring: aPTT should be 1.5–2.5 times the control value for therapeutic heparin.