Anticoagulants are medicines that increase the time it takes for blood to clot. They are commonly called blood thinners.
There are several different types of anticoagulant. Each type works at a different level on the blood coagulation pathway. Some can be given by mouth; others can only be given by injection.
Name ae listed below of blood thinners (Anticoagulants) include:
- Apixaban (Eliquis)
- Dabigatran (Pradaxa)
- Edoxaban (Lixiana)
- Rivaroxaban (Xarelto)
- Warfarin (Coumadin)
- Aspirin
- Brilinta (ticagrelor)
- Effient (prasugrel)
- Plavix (clopidogrel)
How do anticoagulants work?
Blood clots (or coagulates) to stop bleeding. If clots get into your blood vessels, they can cause a heart attack or stroke. Anticoagulants prevent blood clots. They can’t break up clots that have already formed. But they may prevent existing clots from getting bigger.
Type of blood thinners ?
Anticoagulants may be divided into four main groups
- Coumarins and indandiones;
- Factor Xa inhibitors;
- Heparins;
- Direct thrombin inhibitors.
Who needs blood thinners?
You may need a blood thinner if you have:
- Certain heart or blood vessel diseases
- An abnormal heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation
- A heart valve replacement
- A risk of blood clots after surgery
- Congenital heart defects