Proper Way to Inject Lovenox

Properly inject Lovenox.

Lovenox, a brand name under which the drug enoxaparin is marketed, is an injectable anticoagulant that is used in the prevention and treatment of deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Lovenox specifically targets blood clots throughout the body and carries a lower risk of hemorrhage than that associated with the drugs heparin and warfarin. Lovenox is administered once a day through a subcutaneous injection site around the naval. Having the correct dosage of medicine is only half the battle in order for the prescribed medication to work properly; administering the drug in the correct manner can determine whether or not you get the most out of your medication.

Things You'll Need

• Gloves
• Alcohol swab
• Lovenox pre-filled syringe
• Band-aid
• Sharps container

Instructions

1. Apply gloves and cleanse an area one to two inches away from naval in a circular motion, moving outwards two to three inches.

2. Remove the needle shield. Pull the needle shield straight off the syringe. Lovenox comes in pre-filled syringes and must be prescribed by a physician.

3. Pinch the one-inch section of skin that has been cleaned with the alcohol swab, and inject the Lovenox into the fatty tissue of the abdomen one to two inches away from the naval. Inject the medication at a 90 degree angle, pushing the plunger to the bottom of the syringe.

4. Keep your fingers on the plunger rod once the medicine has been injected and remove the syringe from the injection site. Be sure to pull the needle out of the skin away from yourself and anyone else around you and firmly push the plunger rod to trigger the safety, which will cover the used needle. You will hear a clicking noise once this has been successfully achieved.

5. Place the used syringe immediately in a "sharps" container and place a band-aid over the injection site if needed.

Tips & Warnings

• The safety systems activate once the syringe has been emptied and has been removed from the patient's skin.

• The safety system requires no additional sterilization before injection.

References

• "Textbook of Basic Nursing: 9th Edition"; Rosdahl and Kowalski; 2008
• DailyMed: About Daily Medication Lovenox