Quick answers
- What is Hetastarch used for?
- The FDA-approved label (Hextend, Hospira, Inc., May 20, 2026) says: “HEXTEND (6% Hetastarch in Lactated Electrolyte Injection) is indicated in the treatment of hypovolemia when plasma volume expansion is desired in settings where adequate alternative treatment is unavailable. It is not a substitute for blood or plasma.” This page is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change any medicine.
- Does Hetastarch have a boxed warning?
- Yes. The FDA label for Hextend has a boxed warning, the FDA’s strongest warning. Read it on the full label and ask your pharmacist.
- Is there a shortage of Hetastarch?
- No current shortage is listed by the FDA for the products of this medicine (FDA data from October 30, 2026).
- Has Hetastarch been recalled?
- FDA enforcement reports list 1 recall of products of this medicine; the newest started October 22, 2012 (Class II). A recall usually concerns specific lots, not every product.
- Who makes Hetastarch?
- 2 companies list prescription products of Hetastarch in the FDA NDC Directory, including Hospira, Inc. and HF Acquisition Co LLC, DBA HealthFirst.
What Hetastarch is used for
Quoted from the “Indications and Usage” section of the FDA-approved label.
HEXTEND (6% Hetastarch in Lactated Electrolyte Injection) is indicated in the treatment of hypovolemia when plasma volume expansion is desired in settings where adequate alternative treatment is unavailable. It is not a substitute for blood or plasma.
— FDA label: Hextend, Hospira, Inc., effective May 20, 2026. Read the full label on DailyMed →
The FDA has 3 labels for products of this medicine (different makers and forms); uses can differ between them. Check the label that comes with your own medicine.
This page is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change any medicine.
Boxed warning
A boxed warning (“black box”) is the FDA’s strongest warning on a drug label, for serious or life-threatening risks.
This label has a boxed warning. Read it on the full label →
3 of 3 FDA labels for this medicine have a boxed warning.
Forms and how it is given
| Dosage forms | Injection, solution |
|---|---|
| Route | Intravenous |
| Prescription products | 3 in the FDA NDC Directory |
| Brand names | Hextend |
Companies that list this medicine
Labelers in the FDA NDC Directory: the company named on the package (maker or distributor), with the number of prescription products.
- Hospira, Inc.2 products
- HF Acquisition Co LLC, DBA HealthFirst1 product
FDA approval history
No Drugs@FDA application is linked to these products.
Shortage status
The FDA drug shortage list does not show these products.
Recalls
From FDA enforcement reports, matched by the product’s NDC code. A recall usually covers specific lots only: check the lot number on your package and ask your pharmacist. Do not stop a medicine on your own.
-
October 22, 2012 · Class II · Terminated · D-184-2013
Lack of Assurance of Sterility: There is the potential for the solution to leak from the seal of the fill tube to the bag.
HEXTEND 6% Hetastarch in Lactated Electrolyte Injection, 500 mL, Rx only , MANUFACTURED AND DISTRIBUTED BY HOSPIRA, INC., LAKE FOREST, IL 60045, NDC 0409-1555-54 — Hospira Inc.
What do the recall classes mean?
Class I: The most serious type: there is a reasonable chance that using the product will cause serious health problems or death.
Class II: Using the product may cause temporary or medically reversible health problems, or the chance of serious problems is remote.
Class III: Using the product is not likely to cause health problems (for example a labeling or packaging issue).
Official identifiers
| RxCUI (RxNorm) | 310757, 404665 |
|---|---|
| SPL set ID of the quoted label | fc79700c-6c3b-4998-8307-4dc8c81c5041 |
| FDA labels (SPL) | 3 |
| Active ingredients (FDA) | HETASTARCH |
Sources
- FDA-approved label on DailyMed (National Library of Medicine) — Hextend, Hospira, Inc., effective May 20, 2026; via openFDA, FDA data exported October 30, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
- NDC Directory (openFDA) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA data exported October 30, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
- Drugs@FDA (openFDA) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA data exported October 30, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
- Drug recall enforcement reports (openFDA) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA data exported October 27, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
- Drug shortages (openFDA) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA data exported October 30, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
openFDA data is provided by the FDA as is; it may be incomplete. Always rely on the label that comes with your medicine. FDA Enforcement Report search →