They're given to people at a high risk of getting clots, to reduce their chances of developing serious conditions such as strokes and heart attacks. A blood clot is a seal created by the blood to stop bleeding from wounds. While they're useful in stopping bleeding, they can block blood vessels and stop blood flowing to organs such as the brain, heart or lungs if they form in the wrong place.
Anticoagulants work by interrupting the process involved in the formation of blood clots. They're sometimes called "blood-thinning" medicines, although they don't actually make the blood thinner.
Although they're used for similar purposes, anticoagulants are different to antiplatelet medicines, such as low-dose aspirin and clopidogrel. The most commonly prescribed anticoagulant is warfarin. Newer types of anticoagulants are also available and are becoming increasingly common.
These include:. Warfarin and the newer alternatives are taken as tablets or capsules. There's also an anticoagulant called heparin that can be given by injection. If a blood clot blocks the flow of blood through a blood vessel, the affected part of the body will become starved of oxygen and will stop working properly.
Depending on where the clot forms, this can lead to serious problems such as:. Treatment with anticoagulants may be recommended if your doctor feels you're at an increased risk of developing one of these problems. This may be because you've had blood clots in the past or you've been diagnosed with a condition such as atrial fibrillation that can cause blood clots to form.
If any of the following serious bleeding side-effects occur while you are taking an anticoagulant you should see a doctor urgently and have a blood test:. Some people who have no other risk factors for brain injury have an increased risk of bleeding after a head injury if they are taking anticoagulants.
NICE recommends that people taking anticoagulant treatment should have a CT head scan within eight hours of their injury. For a full list of people who cannot take an anticoagulant, please see the leaflet that comes with your medicine.
If you think you have had a side-effect to one of your medicines you can report this on the Yellow Card Scheme. You can do this online at www. The Yellow Card Scheme is used to make pharmacists, doctors and nurses aware of any new side-effects that medicines or any other healthcare products may have caused.
If you wish to report a side-effect, you will need to provide basic information about:. Jun M, Lix LM, Durand M, et al ; Comparative safety of direct oral anticoagulants and warfarin in venous thromboembolism: multicentre, population based, observational study. Dabigatran etexilate for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in atrial fibrillation ; NICE Technology Appraisal Guidance - last updated July Rivaroxaban for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis and prevention of recurrent deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism ; NICE Technology Appraisal Guidance, July Rivaroxaban for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in people with atrial fibrillation ; NICE Technology Appraisal Guidance - last updated July Apixaban for preventing stroke and systemic embolism in people with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation ; NICE Technology Appraisal Guidance - last updated July Apixaban for the prevention of venous thromboembolism after total hip or knee replacement in adults ; NICE Technology Appraisal Guidance, January Rivaroxaban for the prevention of venous thromboembolism after total hip or total knee replacement in adults ; NICE Technology Appraisal Guidance, April Andexanet alfa for reversing anticoagulation from apixaban or rivaroxaban ; NICE Technology appraisal guidance, May Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions.
Egton Medical Information Systems Limited has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but make no warranty as to its accuracy. Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. For details see our conditions. In this article How and why does blood clot? How do anticoagulants work? When are anticoagulants used? What are the possible side-effects?
What if I bleed whilst taking an anticoagulant? What if I have a head injury while taking an anticoagulant? What else should I be aware of when taking an anticoagulant? These proteins are called factors. Different anticoagulants interfere with different factors to prevent clotting. Your doctor may recommend an anticoagulant or antiplatelet drug if you have one or more of the following conditions. Each of these can cause blood to pool in your vessels, which can lead to clot formation:.
If you take warfarin, you will have regular blood tests called international normalized ratio INR tests. The results help your doctor decide if the medication is at the right level in your body.
Your doctor may also run other tests if you take different medications. There are side effects associated with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs, and some can be serious. Call your doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms while taking any anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs:. Because of the side effects of these types of drugs, certain people have an increased risk of complications when using them. If you have bleeding disorder, diabetes, high blood pressure, balance problems, congestive heart failure, or liver or kidney problems, talk to your doctor.
Warfarin may increase your risk of complications from these conditions. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, do not use warfarin. Doing so can increase the risk of fetal death and harm to your baby. Some drugs and dietary supplements can further increase your risk of bleeding, so tell your doctor about all of the prescription and over-the-counter products you take. The risks and side effects of these drugs can be serious.
If you have certain conditions, your doctor may prescribe a blood thinner medication. Blood thinners can work to lower your chances of having a heart…. Blood thinners are drugs that prevent the blood from clotting.
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