dalteparin vs enoxaparin
PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.
Side-by-side comparison of dalteparin and enoxaparin. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Fragmin
Lovenox
Dalteparin (Fragmin) is a type of blood thinner medicine. It helps prevent and treat harmful blood clots.
Enoxaparin (Lovenox) is a type of blood thinner. It helps prevent and treat blood clots.
This medicine can help prevent blood clots in your legs after surgery or during illness with limited movement. It can also treat blood clots in your legs or lungs. Dalteparin can also prevent chest pain caused by heart problems.
This medicine can prevent blood clots from forming after surgery or during illness when you are not moving around much. It also treats blood clots in your veins, with or without a pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lungs). Enoxaparin can also help prevent chest pain and heart attacks.
Dalteparin is a low molecular weight heparin. It works by blocking certain proteins in your blood that help clots form. This helps to prevent new clots from forming and keeps existing clots from getting bigger.
Enoxaparin works by blocking certain proteins in your blood that help clots form. This helps to prevent new clots from forming and keeps existing clots from getting bigger. It makes your blood less likely to clot.
- • Bleeding
- • Bruising at the injection site
- • Pain at the injection site
- • Increased liver enzymes
- • Bleeding
- • Low red blood cell count (anemia)
- • Low platelet count (thrombocytopenia)
- • Increased liver enzymes
- • Diarrhea
- Nausea 672
- Pulmonary Embolism 570
- Dyspnoea 563
- Vomiting 545
- Abdominal Pain 489
- Dyspnoea 2,372
- Nausea 2,352
- Diarrhoea 2,244
- Anaemia 2,189
- Thrombocytopenia 2,065
This medicine can cause bleeding around your spine if you get an epidural or spinal tap. This can lead to long-term or permanent paralysis. Tell your doctor if you are taking other medicines that can increase bleeding, like NSAIDs or aspirin.
Enoxaparin can cause bleeding around your spine if you get an epidural or spinal tap. This can lead to long-term or permanent paralysis. Tell your doctor if you are taking other medicines that can increase bleeding, like NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen) or aspirin. Your doctor will monitor you for signs of nerve problems.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. This medicine should only be used during pregnancy if clearly needed. Dalteparin passes into breast milk in small amounts, but the effect on the baby is not known.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Enoxaparin may not be safe for your baby. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
How to Read This dalteparin vs enoxaparin Comparison
dalteparin is classified in the Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin drug class, while enoxaparin sits within the Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory, but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, dalteparin has 2,839 submissions while enoxaparin has 11,222. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for dalteparin or enoxaparin.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.