Combination dihydroergotamine mesylate and heparin sodium with lidocaine HCl. Pharmacokinetics, mechanism of action, clinical efficacy, and adverse effects.

Dihydroergotamine(DHE)-heparin combination offers a unique treatment modality for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis. The combination appears to affect all 3 limbs of Virchow's triad: hypercoagulability, venous stasis, and endothelial damage. In most efficacy studies, data indicated that the combination of DHE 0.5 mg and heparin 5000 IU was superior to low-dose heparin alone. Even when the efficacy of DHE-heparin was the same as that of heparin alone, the use of the combination allowed for a decrease in the heparin dose required.