Anticoagulants

By: Darrel Dejvongsa

About Anticoagulants

• Anticoagulants also called Blood Thinners help prevent existing blood clots form becoming larger and maybe used to prevent deep vein blood clots or to treat certain blood vessels, heart, or lung conditions.

Medical Conditions

• Existing blood clots and deep vein blood clots.

• Anticoagulants are also given to certain people at risk for forming blood clots, such as those with artificial heart valves or who have arterial fibrillation.

Commonly Prescribed Medications

• Dalteparin (Fragmin)

• Danaparoid (Orgaran)

• Warfarin (Coumadin)

Benefits and Risks

Benefits

• Lowers chances of a stroke.

• Prevents Blood Clots.

Risks

• Slows down the amount of time it takes for your blood to clot.

• Severe Bleeding.

Common Side Effects

• Itching, rashes, easy bruising, increased bleeding from injuries and purplish spots on the skin.

Medication Interactions • Antibiotics. Medications that prevent or treat bacterial infection.

• Vitamin K supplements.

• Some anti-inflammatory medications.

• Some ulcer medications.

• Alcohol, barbiturates, caffeine, nicotine and marijuana

How is this medication given?

• Orally

• Intravenous (I.V.) injection

• I would prescribed for regular use taken in pill form.

Five Rights of Medication Administration

• Right time

• Right Patient

• Right Drug

• Right Dosage

• Right route of administration

Interesting Facts

• Heparin a type of anticoagulant is obtained by extracting it from animal tissues.

Sources

• WebMD.com