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Summary
If you have some kinds of heart or blood vessel disease, or if you have poor blood flow to your brain, your doctor may recommend that you take a blood thinner. Blood thinners reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke by reducing the formation of blood clots in your arteries and veins. You may also take a blood thinner if you have
- An abnormal heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation
- Heart valve surgery
- Congenital heart defects
There are two main types of blood thinners. Anticoagulants, such as heparin or warfarin (also called Coumadin), work on chemical reactions in your body to lengthen the time it takes to form a blood clot. Antiplatelet drugs, such as aspirin, prevent blood cells called platelets from clumping together to form a clot.
When you take a blood thinner, follow directions carefully. Make sure that your healthcare provider knows all of the medicines and supplements you are using.
- Anti-Clotting Agents Explained (American Heart Association)
- Anticoagulant Medicine: Potential for Drug-Food Interactions (National Jewish Health)
- Anticoagulants (Texas Heart Institute) Also in Spanish
- Blood Thinner Pills: Your Guide to Using Them Safely (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) Also in Spanish
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What Are Anticoagulants and Antiplatelet Agents?
(American Heart Association)
- PDF
Also in Spanish
- What You Need to Know When Taking Anticoagulantion Medication (National Jewish Health) - PDF
Related Issues
- Blood Thinners and Dental Care (American Academy of Oral Medicine)
- Blood Thinners: Can I Still Get Blood Clots? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Bridging Anticoagulation (American Heart Association)
- Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (American Heart Association) - PDF
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Important Information to Know When You Are Taking: Warfarin (Coumadin) and Vitamin K
(National Institutes of Health, Clinical Center)
- PDF
Also in Spanish
- Medication Interactions: Food, Supplements and Other Drugs (American Heart Association)
- Patient's Guide to Perioperative Antithrombotic Therapy (American College of Chest Physicians) - PDF
- PT and INR Test (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- Rivaroxaban to Prevent Pulmonary Embolism after Hip or Knee Replacement (American Heart Association) - PDF
- Warfarin Side Effects: Watch for Interactions (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Specifics
- Anticoagulation (American Heart Association)
- Antiplatelet Drugs: Do You Need One to Help Prevent a Heart Attack or Stroke? (Consumers Union of U.S.) - PDF Also in Spanish
- Antiplatelet Therapy (Texas Heart Institute) Also in Spanish
- Aspirin (American Heart Association)
- Daily Aspirin Therapy: Understand the Benefits and Risks (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Patient's Guide to Antithrombotic and Thrombolytic Therapy (American College of Chest Physicians) - PDF
- Patient's Guide to Taking Warfarin (American Heart Association)
- What are Antiplatelet Medicines and How Do They Work? (National Center for Farmworker Health, Consumers Union of U.S.) - PDF Also in Spanish
Genetics
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Genetics Home Reference: clopidogrel resistance (National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: warfarin resistance (National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: warfarin sensitivity (National Library of Medicine)
Videos and Tutorials
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Staying Active and Healthy: Blood Thinners
(Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
Statistics and Research
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Commonly Prescribed Blood Thinner Associated with Higher Risk of Post-Surgery Complications (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Anticoagulants (National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Heparin (National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors (National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Warfarin (National Institutes of Health)
Journal ArticlesReferences and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Find an Expert
Patient Handouts
- Aspirin and heart disease Also in Spanish
- Clopidogrel (Plavix) Also in Spanish
- How to give a heparin shot Also in Spanish
- Taking warfarin (Coumadin) Also in Spanish
