Anti-coagulants

Interesting topic.  I prefer to avoid animal products and am fairly sure I had Fragmin although I admit I did not ask how it was made.  Then again, nobody asked the post-anaesthetic-addled me whether using animal products would be an issue.  I think medics need to be more aware of this when prescribing and perhaps medicine packaging should show a "Suitable for vegetarians" symbol, like food packaging does.  I realise there are times where there is no choice but it would be good to be made aware of what is being put into one's body.

I was googling Fragmin, because some people seem to be having so many problems with it, and I came across some interesting articles saying that many of the major religions object to the use of porcine products in drugs and that medical staff should be more aware of offering alternatives.   I don't eat meat so I thought this was an interesting idea, although I wouldn't refuse a drug that was needed for my health.  If I get the chance, I might discuss it with the health team beforehand to see if there is an alternative to heparin-derived drugs.  I agree with you that it may become a more important issue in future.   Scientists are already saying they can create the equivalent of meat in a laboratory - so could they make the drugs too I wonder??

This discussion has made me think!!! I have always regarded myself as a meat eating, non vegetarian kind of person, who isn't worried about such things. Last week I decided I needed a new bedside rug, especially when I washed the old one and it fell to pieces! I looked in every shop in our local high street and could only finds sheep skins. I could not bring myself to walk on one after seeing sheep running around in fields. The very last shop I tried had synthetic rugs, very fluffy and washable. Just what I wanted, and I got £4 knocked off the price!! I wonder if the chap felt sorry for an old woman, drenched to the skin, and wanting a synthetic rug, and without the correct change!  

To follow up on the above - I asked the senior anaesthetist just before my op whether I could have an alternative to Heparin and she initially said she would look into it but then when I was prepped on the table and about to be put under they said I would have to have it.  At that stage I wasn't about to put up a fight!   When it came time to discuss discharge meds I again asked a nurse if I could have a non-porcine drug to inject at home.   She said this might be a possibility for someone who needed an anti-coagulant on an ongoing basis to treat an existing problem but for DVT prophylaxis after surgery the hospital always issued heparin-derived drugs.  In my case I was given Clexane/Inhixa.   So I think if someone objects to pork products for religious reasons the hospital might be more receptive but otherwise they just work within normal guidelines.   I've no idea about any other drugs I was given whilst in hospital but just happened to read something about heparin!!

NannyAnny - I laughed at the story of the rug!   I'm the opposite to you - I don't eat meat but I did used to have a sheepskin rug by my bed at one time - not very logical!!

Hi Rollercoaster ride,

We have spent many happy hours on our friends farm in Northumberland rounding sheep up, dipping them, etc. I've also seen lambs 'hanging' before being  cooked. I think all this experience has put me off eating lamb, or even standing on it!! I was quite proud of myself a few years ago when I 'rescued' a sheep. It had its head stuck in a mesh fence and I managed to free it. They are rather silly animals, but I like them!! 

Goodness knows what I've had in hospital, but what I don't know I can't worry about!!!   xxxxx