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A blood thinner is a type of drug that reduces the blood's tendency to clot (coagulate). Anticoagulants may be used as a medication for thrombotic disorders, or to stop clotting in medical equipment such as test tubes, blood transfusion bags, or renal dialysis equipment.
Source
Heparin (usually made from pig intestines) acts by activating antithrombin III, which blocks thrombin from clotting blood. Heparin can be injected into a patient, or mixed with blood or plasma to prevent clotting in medical devices. "Low molecular weight heparin" is a more processed product that is more predictable and has fewer side-effects.
Another type of anticoagulant is the direct thrombin inhibitor.
Function; Reasons For Use
Oral anticoagulants are drugs that act by interfering with the physiological action of vitamin K.
Generally, anticoagulants are used to treat patients with deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism, atrial fibrillation, and mechanical prosthetic heart valves.
Directions
In cases when an immediate effect is required, heparin must be given at the same time.
Expected Outcome
These drugs take at least 48-72 hours for their anticoagulant effect to develop fully.
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Anticoagulant / Blood Thinner can help with the following: | | | | | Digestion | Not recommended for:
 Gastrointestinal Bleeding | Drugs that reduce the blood's tendency to clot (anticoagulants) or that dissolve clots once they have formed (thrombolytics or tissue plasminogen activator) can cause gastrointestinal bleeding. |
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Anticoagulant / Blood Thinner can help prevent the following:
KEY | | Highly recommended | | | Reasonably likely to cause problems |
GLOSSARY
Anticoagulant
A substance that prevents or delays blood clots (coagulation). Examples: Heparin (endogenous), Dicumarol and
Warfarin (drugs), Melilotus (coumarin-containing).
Dialysis
The artificial process of cleaning wastes from the blood when kidneys fail.
Embolism
Obstruction of a vessel by an abnormal body, usually a detached blood clot.
Gastrointestinal (GI, GI Tract)
Pertaining to the stomach, small and large intestines, colon, rectum, liver, pancreas, and gallbladder.
Kidneys (Kidney, Renal)
Bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist. They are located near the middle of the back, just below the rib cage. The kidneys are sophisticated reprocessing machines, each day handling about 50 gallons of blood to sift out about half a gallon of waste products and extra water. The waste and extra water become urine, which flows to the bladder through tubes called ureters. The actual filtering occurs in tiny units inside the kidneys called nephrons. Every kidney has about a million nephrons. In a nephron, a glomerulus -- which is a tiny blood vessel, or capillary -- intertwines with a tiny urine-collecting tube called a tubule. A complicated chemical exchange takes place, as waste materials and water leave your blood and enter your urinary system. The kidneys recycle chemicals such as sodium, phosphorus, and potassium and thus regulate their levels. Renal: Pertaining to the kidneys.
Lung (Lungs, Pulmonary)
Organ of the body, located in the chest cavity which is designed to bring oxygen from the air into the blood stream, while also expelling carbon dioxide and other waste gases out of the body. Pulmonary: Related to the lungs.
Thrombosis
Formation of blood clots causing vascular obstruction.
Vitamin K
Helps the blood clot when the body is injured.
Last updated: Jun 22, 2008
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