Blood thinners

Blood Thinners

Blood thinners, also known as anticoagulants (pronounced an-tee-ko-AG-u-lants), are a type of medication that reduces the formation of blood clots. They are often prescribed to individuals with a high risk of blood clot formation, such as those with atrial fibrillation, deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism.

Etymology

The term "blood thinner" is derived from the medication's function. It "thins" the blood, or more accurately, it prevents the blood from clotting as quickly or as efficiently. The term "anticoagulant" comes from the Latin words 'anti' meaning 'against', and 'coagulare' meaning 'to cause to clot'.

Types of Blood Thinners

There are two main types of blood thinners: antiplatelet drugs and anticoagulants.

• Antiplatelet drugs (pronounced an-tee-PLATE-let drugs) prevent blood cells called platelets from clumping together to form a clot. Examples include aspirin and clopidogrel (Plavix).
• Anticoagulants work by increasing the time it takes for your blood to clot. Examples include warfarin (Coumadin), heparin, and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) such as dabigatran (Pradaxa), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), and apixaban (Eliquis).

Side Effects

Like all medications, blood thinners can have side effects. The most common side effect is bleeding. This happens if the medicine thins your blood too much. This side effect can be life-threatening. Other side effects include upset stomach, bloating, and liver damage.

Precautions

People taking blood thinners need to be careful about the amount of vitamin K they consume, as it can affect how the medication works. They also need to avoid activities that could lead to injury and bleeding.

See Also

• Blood clot
• Atrial fibrillation
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Pulmonary embolism
• Antiplatelet drugs
• Anticoagulants
• Vitamin K

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