Can I take the missed heparin dose in the afternoon if I forgot to take it in the morning?

Generally, if a morning dose of heparin is missed, it should not be administered later in the afternoon. It is recommended to seek medical advice promptly and follow the doctor's instructions for medication use. The specific analysis is as follows:

Heparin is an acidic mucopolysaccharide naturally produced and secreted by mast cells in the human body. It can delay or prevent blood coagulation both in vivo and in vitro. As an anticoagulant drug, heparin is commonly used to prevent thrombosis. It is generally recommended to administer heparin injections at consistent times each day, maintaining regular intervals between doses; otherwise, the therapeutic effect may be compromised.

If heparin is usually injected in the morning, it is not advisable to make up the missed dose in the afternoon, as this could disrupt normal clotting function and increase the risk of bleeding. With a higher risk of bleeding, this may lead to physical discomfort. It is recommended to continue with the next scheduled injection according to the original plan.

Heparin injections should be administered under the guidance of a physician. If a dose is missed, inform the doctor immediately—do not adjust the dosage or administration schedule arbitrarily.