Heparin and Zostavax

• Generic Name: heparin
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names:

  Hep-Pak, Heparin Lock flush, Hep-Pak CVC, Hep-Lock, Heparin Sodium ADD-Vantage, HepFlush

Heparin is an anticoagulant (blood thinner) that prevents the formation of blood clots.

Heparin is used to treat and prevent blood clots caused by certain medical conditions or medical procedures. It is also used before surgery to reduce the risk of blood clots.

Do not use heparin injection to flush (clean out) an intravenous (IV) catheter. A separate product is available to use as catheter lock flush. Using the wrong type of heparin to flush a catheter can result in fatal bleeding.

• Generic Name: zoster vaccine live
• Dosage Forms: injection, powder, lyophilized, for suspension
• Other Brand Names: Zostavax

Zostavax (zoster vaccine live) is used to prevent herpes zoster virus (shingles) in people age 50 and older.

Herpes zoster is caused by the same virus (varicella) that causes chickenpox in children. When this virus becomes active again in an adult, it can cause herpes zoster, or shingles. Zoster vaccine is a live vaccine that helps prevent shingles.

Zostavax works by exposing you to a small dose of live virus, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.

Zostavax is used to prevent herpes zoster virus (shingles) in people age 50 and older.

Zostavax will not treat shingles or nerve pain caused by shingles (post-herpetic neuralgia).