Blood Thinners

On this page

Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Latest News

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics
• Genetics

See, Play and Learn

• No links available

Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Find an Expert

For You

• Patient Handouts

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 health care provider knows all of the medicines and supplements you are using.

Start Here

• 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
• 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

Latest News

• It's Snakes to the Rescue for Heart Patients (06/08/2017, HealthDay)
• Better Treatment Might Prevent Hundreds of Thousands of Strokes (05/15/2017, HealthDay)

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
• 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)
• 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 Therapy (Texas Heart Institute) Also in Spanish
• Aspirin (American Heart Association)
• Aspirin to Prevent a First Heart Attack or Stroke (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
• Daily Aspirin Therapy: Understand the Benefits and Risks (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Patient's Guide to Taking Warfarin (American Heart Association)
• What are Antiplatelet Medicines and How Do They Work? (Consumers Union of U.S., National Center for Farmworker Health) - PDF Also in Spanish

Genetics

• Genetics Home Reference: clopidogrel resistance (National Library of Medicine)
• Genetics Home Reference: warfarin resistance (National Library of Medicine)
• Genetics Home Reference: warfarin sensitivity (National Library of Medicine)

Statistics and Research

• Commonly Prescribed Blood Thinner Associated with Higher Risk of Post-Surgery Complications (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Anticoagulants (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Heparin (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Warfarin (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Acute Myocardial Infarction.
• Article: Risk of gastrointestinal bleeding during anticoagulant treatment.
• Article: Review of D-dimer testing: Good, Bad, and Ugly.
• Blood Thinners -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Patient Handouts

• Aspirin and heart disease (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Clopidogrel (Plavix) (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• How to give a heparin shot (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Taking warfarin (Coumadin) (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish