Hetastarch Dosage

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jul 19, 2024.

Usual Adult Dose for Hypovolemia

Dosage for Acute Use in Plasma Volume Expansion: 500 to 1000 mL IV
Maintenance dose: Total dosage and rate of infusion depends on the amount of blood or plasma lost and the resultant hemoconcentration.
Maximum dose: Doses more than 1500 mL per day (approximately 20 mL per kg of body weight) are usually not required although higher doses have been used in postoperative and trauma patients with severe blood loss.

Dosage in Leukapheresis: 250 to 700 mL to which citrate anticoagulant has been added and administered to the input line of the centrifugation apparatus at a ratio of 1:8 to 1:13 to venous whole blood.

Comments:

• Hetastarch and citrate should be thoroughly mixed to assure effective anticoagulation.
• Hetastarch admixtures of 500 to 560 mL with citrate concentrations up to 2.5% are compatible for 24 hours at room temperature.

Uses:

• For treatment of hypovolemia when plasma volume expansion is desired
• This drug in leukapheresis improves the harvesting and increasing the yield of granulocytes by centrifugal means

Renal Dose Adjustments

Caution recommended. Avoid use in preexisting renal dysfunction.

Liver Dose Adjustments

Data not available

Precautions

US BOXED WARNINGS:
Do not use this drug in critically ill adult patients (including patients with sepsis) due to the increased risk of:

• Mortality
• Renal replacement therapy

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

• Hypersensitivity to the active component or any of the ingredients
• Do not use in critically ill adult patients (including patients with sepsis) due to increased risk of mortality and renal replacement therapy (RRT)
• Severe liver disease
• Do not use in conditions where volume overload is a potential problem (e.g., congestive heart failure, renal disease with anuria or oliguria not related to hypovolemia)
• Do not use in patients with preexisting coagulation or bleeding disorders

Safety and efficacy have not been established in patients younger than 18 years.

Consult WARNINGS section for additional precautions.

Dialysis

Hemodialysis: This drug is not eliminated by hemodialysis.
Peritoneal dialysis: Data not available

Other Comments

Storage requirements:

• Avoid excessive heat. Protect from freezing.
• Exposure to prolonged adverse storage conditions may result in a change to a turbid deep brown color or the formation of a crystalline precipitate in which cases the solution should not be used.
• Storage in automated dispensing machines: Brief exposure up to 2 weeks to ultraviolet or fluorescent light does not affect the product labeling legibility, but prolonged exposure can cause fading of the red label. Rotate stock frequently.

IV compatibility: The safety and compatibility of additive other than citrate have not been studied.

See also:

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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