What is an anticoagulant medication?
An anticoagulant medication is a type of medication that increases the time it takes for blood to clot. (1)
They are commonly called blood thinners. (1)
What are types of anticoagulants?
coumarins(1)
indadiones (1)
factor Xa inhibitors (1)
heparins (1)
direct thrombin inhibitors (1)
What medical conditions may an anticoagulant be used for?
atrial fibrillation (1)
deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (1)
hip or knee replacement surgery (1)
ischemic stroke (1)
myocardial infarction (heart attack) (1)
pulmonary embolism (1)
unstable angina (1)
What are possible side effects of anticoagulant medication?
. major or fatal bleeding and haemorrhage (1)
. spinal / epidural hematomas (1)
. thrombocytopenia (1)
. necrosis and/or gangrene of the skin (1)
. an increased risk of thrombotic events on premature discontinuation of dabigatran (1)
. bleeding (1)
. gastrointestinal effects such as diarrhea, heartburn, nausea, and loss of appetite (1)
. irritation and pain around the site of injection (1)
. elevations in liver enzymes (1)
. shortness of breath (1)
Resources
1. https://www.drugs.com/drug-class/anticoagulants.html
