Medications for Preventing Blood Clots: Anticoagulants, Antiplatelet Agents

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A blood clot is a semi-solid form of blood cells that helps to prevent excessive blood loss in our body. But when it forms in the blood vessels, it blocks the blood flow and can cause severe risk like a stroke or heart attack. This condition needs to be immediately addressed before it leads to life-threatening risk. Anticoagulants and antiplatelets are blood thinners that help to decrease the risk of heart attack and stroke caused by blood clotting. Today, we will discuss the role of anticoagulants and antiplatelets in preventing blood clots.

Who will get blood clots?

Blood clots can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes in individuals. However, it is common in people with certain health conditions.

Angina: In individuals with chest pain(angina), severe angina is a sign of a heart attack.
Atrial fibrillation: Patients who have an irregular heart rhythm than the normal.
Coronary artery disease: Individuals with a narrowing or blocking of coronary artery walls.
History of heart attack and stroke: Patients who have a history of heart attack and stroke.
Peripheral vascular disease: Patients who have blocked veins and arteries in the heart.
Surgery: Individuals who have gone through coronary artery bypass heart valve surgery.

What are anticoagulants and antiplatelets?

Anticoagulants and antiplatelets are involved in preventing blood clots through a different mechanism.

1. Antiplatelets medicine:

Antiplatelets are medications that can interfere with platelet binding or clotting formation. Antiplatelets are medicines that interfere with the process of platelet binding.

2. Aspirin:

Aspirin is a commonly used blood thinner to help reduce the complications of heart attack and stroke. Your doctor may provide a low-dose aspirin to treat the blood clot.

3. Adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptor inhibitors:

ADP receptor inhibitors irreversibly bind to the platelet surface receptor, thereby preventing platelet aggregation in the body.

4. Glycoprotein platelet inhibitors:

They prevent platelet binding to the glycoprotein receptors on the plasma membrane, thereby preventing platelet formation.

5. Protease-activated receptor (PAR-1) antagonists:

They block the thrombin-activated receptor, which is involved in blood clotting formation.

Side effects of Antiplatelets

Asthma: Medications like aspirin can induce asthma in patients.
Shortness of breath: Individuals may have shortness of breath or breathing difficulty.
Bleeding: Individuals may experience excessive bleeding problems.
Bruises: Patients may experience bruises due to the breakage of small blood vessels near the skin surface.
Hemorrhage: Individuals may risk blood leakage from the blood vessels.
Nose bleeds (epistaxis): Patients may experience nose bleeding.
Upset stomach: Individuals may experience a stomach upset during the medication.

Anticoagulant medicine

They are medicines that help prevent blood from clotting. This can be achieved by breaking down existing clots or preventing them from forming in the first place.

1. Heparin:

Heparin is a medicine that blocks blood clotting by activating the body’s anticoagulant process. Low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) are small in size and can be used to prevent and treat blood clots and venous thromboembolism.

2. Vitamin K antagonists:

Warfarin, like medicine, blocks the liver from processing vitamin K into factors (blood clotting factors).

3. Direct thrombin inhibitors:

These are medicines that can be directly attached to thrombin (anticoagulant) and inhibit it.

4. Factor Xa Inhibitors:

Apixaban (Eliquis 5mg tablet) belongs to direct oral anticoagulant (DOACs) medication belonging to the category of medicines known as Factor Xa Inhibitors, used for the prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis and reduces the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation(AF).

Side effect of anticoagulants

Anticoagulant medication can cause adverse effects like diarrhea, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, rashes, itchiness, hair loss, and jaundice in individuals. It is recommended to report to your doctor immediately if you have any serious or allergic reactions during the medication.

Conclusion

Blood clots in the arteries and veins can lead to severe complications, which should be addressed as soon as possible. Anticoagulants and antiplatelet medication are effective in treating blood clotting and its complications, like heart attack and stroke. It is recommended that you speak with your doctor before using the medicine to avoid complications caused by the medication.