What type of drug slows blood clotting

Anticoagulants can be given through a drip into a vein, by injection under the skin or as a medicine by mouth. Warfarin is perhaps the best-known anticoagulant medicine.

For many years, warfarin brand names Coumadin, Marevan was the only oral anticoagulant available. It may be needed for a short time or, in many cases, for life.

People taking warfarin need regular blood tests to check the level of anticoagulation. A measure known as INR international normalised ratio has been developed to compare the rate of blood clotting between someone taking anticoagulants and someone who is not. The INR of a healthy person not taking warfarin is 1. The longer it takes to clot, the higher the INR.

For most people on anticoagulants, the INR needs to be maintained somewhere between 2. These anticoagulants generally do not require blood test monitoring. They may be unsuitable in people with reduced kidney function. Unfractionated heparin is an anticoagulant medicine that is given via a drip, usually in hospital. Its effect on clotting comes on and wears off quickly, and needs to be closely monitored.

It is not suitable for long-term anticoagulation. Unfractionated heparin can cause an uncommon reaction in some people resulting in a reduced number of platelets cells in the blood involved in clotting and problems with clotting. Low molecular weight heparins, such as dalteparin brand name Fragmin and enoxaparin brand name Clexane , are more predictable than unfractionated heparin and do need to be monitored as closely. Another type of medicine — antiplatelet agents — is also used to help prevent blood clots from forming.

Examples include aspirin and clopidogrel Iscover, Plavix. Anticoagulants revised February In: eTG complete. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited; Mar. NHS Choices. Anticoagulant medicines updated 4 Sep Skip to content. Reasons for taking anticoagulants Anticoagulants are used to prevent and treat blood clots in people who have had a previous blood clot that has caused a health problem or those who are at risk of developing a blood clot.

Common reasons for taking anticoagulant medications: having a history of abnormal blood clotting, for example a clot in the leg DVT or on the lung pulmonary embolism ; having an irregular heartbeat, such as atrial fibrillation; having an artificial heart valve; following certain types of surgery such as knee or hip replacement surgery ; and in some cases only after a heart attack or stroke.

Precautions when taking anticoagulants Bleeding. You will bleed more easily when taking anticoagulants, even from minor bumps, scrapes or cuts. Take care when shaving or tooth brushing.

Arixta consists of a portion of the heparin molecule and also inactivates factor Xa. Heparins can be administered intravenously or via an injection under the skin. It is typically used in hospitals to treat a variety of conditions related to blood clots and to prevent clots in at-risk patients.

Intravenous heparin requires frequent blood monitoring to ensure the proper amount of blood thinning. Lovenox, Fragmin, and Arixtra are given as injections, making them useful in similar ways to heparin for both hospitalized and outpatient individuals. Regular blood tests can be done to monitor Lovenox or Fragmin therapy but are often unnecessary.

Pradaxa comes only in pill form, and it is used to prevent stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation and to treat and prevent blood clots within the venous system.

The dosage of Pradaxa is not monitored or adjusted with frequent blood tests. As the name implies, direct Factor Xa inhibitors, like Eliquis and Xarelto, limit Factor Xa activity, leading to less thrombin and consequently less blood clotting. These oral drugs are often used to prevent stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation, as well as to treat and prevent venous system blood clots.

Warfarin takes a different route to stop the clotting cascade; this drug is a vitamin K antagonist, blocking the action of vitamin K in the liver where it assists in the manufacturing of clotting factors. Having been used for many decades, this medicine has numerous indications for its use. Available as an oral medication only, warfarin can be used to prevent strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation and to treat and prevent blood clots within the venous system and the heart, including heart valves.

The drug interacts with a myriad of other medications, and its activity is also affected by dietary vitamin K intake, commonly found in leafy vegetables. Multiple factors contribute to determining what dose of warfarin will be effective.

Therefore, close monitoring of the blood test International Normalized Ratio INR is necessary for safe and effective warfarin usage. The blood test is often done multiple times per week initially and may be gradually reduced to monthly if a stable dose is achieved. Alteplase and reteplase are examples of tissue plasminogen activators or thrombolytics, a powerful class of anticoagulants that come in intravenous form.

They break up blood clots by increasing plasmin levels, which dissolves blood clots. These drugs are used in emergency rooms and hospitals to treat strokes, heart attacks, and other severe blood clots. In addition to the series of enzyme reactions used in blood clotting, circulating blood cells called platelets assist in the formation of clots.

Platelet inhibitors, such as aspirin, Plavix, and Brilinta, have an anticoagulant effect by reducing the activity of platelets. These pills can be used to treat and prevent heart attacks and strokes by reducing blood clotting within coronary and carotid arteries. The combination tablet aspirin with extended-release dipyridamole is used for stroke prevention.

Depending on their other health conditions, men and women can both use anticoagulants if the benefits of blood thinning outweigh the risks of bleeding.

Assessing for any ongoing bleeding, any history of excess bleeding, and any risk factors for excess bleeding is worthwhile before initiating anticoagulant therapy.

Women of reproductive age require particular caution in regards to certain blood thinners. Seniors experience a higher prevalence of health conditions related to blood clots and so more often need anticoagulants. Unfortunately, seniors are also at a higher risk of bleeding complications.

Mitke M. New alternative to warfarin may help reduce stroke in patients with AF. Porth CM. Pathophysiology: Concepts of Altered Health States. Shimoli V, Gage BF.

Cost-effectiveness of dabigatran for stroke prophylaxis in atrial fibrillation. The CMS ruling on venous thromboembolism after total knee or hip arthroplasty: weighing risks and benefits. Amy M. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Powered by www. No part of this website or publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright holder.

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Pharmacology review: Drugs that alter blood coagulation. November 11, Author s :. The reactions include: reflex vasoconstriction platelet aggregation blood coagulation clot formation , which causes blood to solidify clot resolution, which returns blood to the fluid state. Indications for drugs that alter coagulation In certain clinical situations—for instance, coronary artery disease, immobility, atrial fibrillation, and joint replacement—interfering with coagulation helps prevent clots that could impede blood flow and cause tissue damage or death.

Nursing considerations When caring for patients receiving platelet inhibitors, minimize invasive procedures and take other steps to guard against blood loss. Injectable anticoagulants These agents act rapidly to directly block formation of thrombin from prothombin. Oral anticoagulants Previously, warfarin Coumadin was the only oral anticoagulant available. Take the following measures to protect patients from injury and minimize invasive procedures: Help consolidate required blood withdrawals so the patient has fewer chances to bleed.

Clearly document in the chart that the patient is on this drug, to alert other caregivers that invasive procedures could lead to blood loss. Use compression dressings over areas that could bleed. Check all drugs and supplements the patient is taking for their potential to alter coagulation, which could lead to more bleeding At least once during each shift, assess patients carefully for signs and symptoms of bleeding.

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