Blood thinners are medications prescribed for the treatment of certain blood-clotting disorders or conditions that trigger unwanted blood clotting. Many patients on these types of drugs do not fully understand why they need these drugs or how they even work.
The term blood thinner does not mean that the drugs will make your blood watery, as it is often misunderstood. In fact, blood thinners do not thin the blood and do not alter its thickness. They simply help blood to flow easily inside blood vessels and stop unwanted clots from forming.
In this blog, we shall explain what these types of drugs do and why they are prescribed.
What Are Blood Thinners?
These are medicines that prevent the formation of blood clots inside blood vessels. Blood clotting is a natural process through which the body prevents excessive bleeding when an injury occurs. However, in some cases, unwanted blood clots can form inside blood vessels even in the absence of an injury, and this blocks blood flow to vital body organs such as the brain, heart, and lungs. In such cases, blood thinners are required in order to maintain normal blood flow in the body.
How blood thinners work
To understand how blood thinners work, we must first understand the body’s blood clotting process. The process is a complex cascade that involves clotting factors and blood platelets. Blood thinners disrupt this process by interacting with clotting factors and blood cells. To understand these further, we shall break down the two types of blood thinners since they affect the clotting cascade in different ways.
Types of Blood Thinners
1. Antiplatelet drugs (platelet aggregation blockers)
How they work: These drugs prevent platelets from clumping together to form clots. When a blood vessel is injured, platelets are usually the first responders to the injured site, where they form a plug by sticking together and to the walls of blood vessels. Antiplatelet drugs prevent platelets from clumping together easily and forming a clot.
Examples: asprin, clopidogrel (Plavix®) , ticagleror (Brilinta®)
Common uses: Antiplatelet drugs are commonly used for heart conditions such as heart attacks, coronary artery disease, and the prevention of strokes caused by clots.
2. Anticoagulants (clotting factor inhibitors)
How they work: This class of blood thinners reduces the body’s ability to form stable clots by slowing down the blood clotting process. Once platelets form the initial plug, certain protein fibers known as fibrin solidify the clot. Anticoagulants slow down fibrin formation in the liver, hence affecting the formation of stable clots.
Examples: warfarin, apixaban (Eliquis®), rivaroxaban (Xarelto®), dabigatran(Pradaxa®), and heparin.
Common uses: Anticoagulant drugs are commonly used in conditions where there is a risk of clot formation inside the veins and the heart, such as in Atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat), Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), Pulmonary embolism (PE), and Mechanical heart valves.
Why Blood Thinners Are Prescribed
These medicines are prescribed to treat an existing clot or to prevent unwanted clots in certain conditions that increase the likelihood of blood clot formation. In this case, blood thinners ensure blood flow to vital organs is maintained by preventing clots from forming inside blood vessels. These conditions include:
- Atrial fibrillation – the disease is characterized by an irregular heartbeat, which causes blood to pool and clot inside the heart.
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) – this refers to the formation of clots inside the deep veins in the legs. Blood thinners are the standard treatment to prevent clots from breaking off and traveling to the lungs.
- Pulmonary embolism (PE) – this is a life-threatening medical emergency where clots travel and lodge in the lungs, usually after dislodging from deep veins in the leg.
- Mechanical heart valves – blood cells can stick together and form clots on artificial surfaces.
- Recent Heart attack – damage to the heart muscle can trigger clotting.
- Stroke prevention – if a clot travels to the brain, a stroke occurs.
- Other conditions: major surgeries like orthopedic surgery, stent placement, certain genetic blood-clotting disorders, and prolonged periods of immobility can all trigger blood clot formation.
Important Safety Tips When Taking Blood Thinners
Blood thinners must be used carefully because of the effect they have on the blood clotting process. Patients and caregivers should keep the following in mind:
- Take the drugs exactly as directed by your doctor and pharmacist.
- Do not skip doses or take extra doses.
- Watch for any signs of bleeding, such as nosebleeds, bleeding gums, blood in urine or stool, or easy bruising, and contact your healthcare provider if any of these occur.
- Avoid mixing with certain medicines without guidance from your pharmacist. Some painkillers (like ibuprofen or diclofenac) and herbal supplements (like ginkgo biloba) can increase bleeding risk. Always ask your pharmacist before taking anything new.
- Have regular checkups. If you’re on warfarin, you’ll need frequent INR tests to monitor your blood’s clotting ability. Newer anticoagulants like rivaroxaban and apixaban usually don’t need this, but still require follow-up.
- Be cautious with diet. For warfarin users, foods high in vitamin K (like spinach, kale, and broccoli) can affect how your medicine works. You don’t need to avoid them, but you need to ensure consistency.
- Be cautious with diet. For warfarin users, foods high in vitamin K (like spinach, kale, and broccoli) can affect how your medicine works. You don’t need to avoid them — just eat consistent amounts.
- Inform all healthcare providers (including your dentist or pharmacist) that you’re on a blood thinner before any procedure or new prescription.
- Avoid contact sports and activities with a high risk of injury.
- Wear medical alert bracelets.
When to Seek Medical Help Immediately
Call your doctor or go to the emergency room if you experience:
- Heavy or prolonged bleeding.
- Black or tarry stools.
- Severe headache or dizziness.
- Coughing or vomiting blood.
- Unexplained swelling or pain in your legs.
Final Dose of Clarity
Blood thinners are lifesavers, but they require careful use and regular monitoring. By understanding how they work and staying in touch with your healthcare team, you can stay safe and get the full benefit of your treatment.
If you ever feel unsure about your medication, dosage, or side effects, talk to your pharmacist, who can help you manage your therapy safely.
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