Anticoagulant and Antiplatelet Drugs

Uses

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:

• heart disease
• problems with blood circulation
• abnormal heartbeat
• congenital heart defect

Your doctor may also prescribe one of these drugs if you’ve had heart valve surgery.

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.

Side effects and risks

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:

• increased bruising
• red or pink colored urine
• stools that are bloody or look like coffee grounds
• more bleeding than normal during your menstrual period
• purple toes
• pain, change in temperature, or blackish areas in your fingers, toes, hands, or feet

Because of the side effects of these types of drugs, certain people have an increased risk of complications when using them. Some people shouldn’t use them at all. 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.

Tips

While you take any of these drugs, follow these tips to help keep you healthy and safe:

• Tell all of your healthcare providers that you’re taking an anticoagulant or antiplatelet, as well as any other drugs.
• Be sure to wear an identification bracelet.
• Avoid sports and other activities that might cause injury. It may be difficult for your body to stop bleeding or to clot normally.
• Talk to your doctor if you plan on having surgery or certain dental procedures. These may put you at risk of bleeding that is difficult to stop. Your doctor may recommend that you stop taking your antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs for a period before and after the procedure.

Talk to your doctor

The risks and side effects of these drugs can be serious. When taking anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs, follow the instructions your doctor’s instructions and call your doctor if you miss a dose.

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2. Ginger

Ginger is in the same family as turmeric and contains salicylate, a natural chemical found in many plants. Salicylates are found in plants. They are derived from salicylic acid.

Acetylsalicylic acid, synthetically derived from salicylate and usually called aspirin, can help prevent stroke and heart attack.

Foods with salicylate, such as avocados, some berries, chilies, and cherries, may also keep blood from clotting. More studies are neededTrusted Source  to see if they’re as effective as prescription medicines.

Shop for ginger.

How to Peel Ginger

3. Cinnamon

Cinnamon and its close cousin, cassia, are both widely available and contain coumarinTrusted Source , a chemical that, in certain drugs, acts as a powerful anticoagulant.

Cinnamon and cassia may also lower blood pressure and relieve inflammation caused by arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. However, studiesTrusted Source  done in humans don’t provide evidence cinnamon is of use for any health-related condition.

Use caution when using cinnamon as a blood thinner. A 2012 risk assessment showed long-term cinnamon consumption in foods, including cinnamon-based breads and teas, can cause liver damage.

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4. Cayenne peppers

Cayenne peppers can have a powerful blood-thinning effect on your body because of their high levels of salicylates. They can be taken in capsule form or easily ground up as a spice for food.

Cayenne peppers can also lower your blood pressure and increase circulation.

Shop for cayenne peppers.

5. Vitamin E

Vitamin E has been reported to be a mild anticoagulant.

Shop for vitamin E supplements.

Other foods

If you have cardiovascular, or heart and blood vessel, disease, or if you want to help prevent it, your doctor may recommend a heart-healthy diet.

A heart-healthy diet includes fresh fruits and vegetables, 100 percent whole grains, healthy oils, low- or no-fat milk products, and healthy proteins.

A heart healthy diet limits high-fat, high-cholesterol, and high-sugar foods. This best diet for your overall health.

If you do take Coumadin (warfarin), it’s very important to eat about the same amount of vitamin K-containing foods every day.

High intake of vitamin K may lessen the effectiveness of warfarin. If you are taking warfarin or other anticoagulants, avoid high-dose vitamin K supplements.

Rich dietary sources of vitamin K include green leafy vegetables, such as lettuce and spinach, as well as broccoli and brussel sprouts.

Takeaway

There are many natural remedies to reduce blood clotting. It’s important you don’t them instead of or with your prescription blood thinner and other medications without first talking to your doctor.

Natural products and some foods can interfere with your prescription medication. They may make your blood too thin, which increases your chance of bleeding. Natural remedies may also decrease the effectiveness of your prescription medication, increasing the chance of clot formation.

Always speak to your doctor before starting any medications, home remedies, or treatments that could have an effect on your health.

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What are blood thinners?

Blood thinners are drugs that prevent the blood from clotting. They’re also called anticoagulants. “Coagulate” means “to clot.”

Blood clots can block the flow of blood to the heart or brain. A lack of blood flow to these organs could cause a heart attack or stroke.

Having high cholesterol increases your risk of a heart attack or stroke due to a blood clot. Taking a blood thinner might help lower that risk. These drugs are mainly used to prevent blood clots in people with an abnormal heart rhythm, called atrial fibrillation.

Warfarin (Coumadin) and heparin are older blood thinners. Five new blood thinners are also available:

• apixaban (Eliquis)
• betrixaban (Bevyxxa, Portola)
• dabigatran (Pradaxa)
• edoxaban (Savaysa)
• rivaroxaban (Xarelto)

How do blood thinners work?

Blood thinners don’t actually thin the blood. Instead, they prevent it from clotting.

You need vitamin K to produce proteins called clotting factors in your liver. Clotting factors make your blood clot. Older blood thinners like Coumadin prevent vitamin K from working properly, which reduces the amount of clotting factors in your blood.

New blood thinners like Eliquis and Xarelto work differently — they block factor Xa. Your body needs factor Xa to make thrombin, an enzyme that helps your blood clot.

Are there any risks or side effects?

Because blood thinners prevent the blood from clotting, they could cause you to bleed more than usual. Sometimes the bleeding can be severe. Older blood thinners are more likely to cause excessive bleeding than new ones.

Call your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms while taking blood thinners:

• new bruises without a known cause
• bleeding gums
• red or dark brown urine or stool
• heavier-than-normal periods
• coughing up or vomiting blood
• weakness or dizziness
• severe headache or stomachache
• a cut that won’t stop bleeding

Blood thinners can also interact with certain medications. Some drugs increase the effects of blood thinners and make you more likely to bleed. Other drugs make blood thinners less effective at preventing a stroke.

Let your doctor know before you take an anticoagulant if you’re taking any of these medications:

• antibiotics such as cephalosporins, ciprofloxacin (Cipro), erythromycin (Erygel, Ery-tab), and rifampin (Rifadin)
• antifungal drugs like fluconazole (Diflucan) and griseofulvin (gris-PEG)
• the anti-seizure drug carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol)
• antithyroid medication
• birth control pills
• chemotherapy drugs like capecitabine
• the cholesterol-lowering drug clofibrate
• the gout drug allopurinol (Aloprim, Zyloprim)
• the heartburn relief drug cimetidine (Tagamet HB)
• the heart rhythm drug amiodarone (Nexterone, Pacerone)
• the immune-suppressing drug azathioprine (Azasan)
• pain relievers such as aspirin, diclofenac (Voltaren), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve)

Also let your doctor know if you’re taking any over-the-counter (OTC) medications, vitamins, or herbal supplements. Some of these products can also interact with blood thinners.

You may also want to consider monitoring how much vitamin K you’re getting in your diet. Ask your doctor how much food containing vitamin K you should eat each day. Foods that are high in vitamin K include:

• broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• cabbage
• collard greens
• green tea
• kale
• lentils
• lettuce
• spinach
• turnip greens