Anticoagulants, sometimes called blood thinners, are substances that lower the blood's ability to clot. People with certain medical conditions are at increased risk of complications from clot formation. Anticoagulant drugs are taken internally to prevent damage, or death caused by a clot in the heart, lungs, or brain. Other anticoagulant agents are used in blood collection tubes to prevent clotting in the tube during blood draws.
Warfarin
Warfarin, or Coumadin, is an anticoagulant used for those who have had heart attacks, have had their heart valves replaced, or have atrial fibrillation. Warfarin is also given to prevent or treat clots in the lungs and veins. It is usually given as an oral medication.
Warfarin works by reducing the body's ability to make the clotting factors that depend on vitamin K, according to RxList.com. Blood levels of this drug must be carefully monitored, as it can cause death from bleeding.
Heparin
The anticoagulant, heparin is used to prevent and treat deep vein clots, and clot blockages that form in atrial fibrillation. It is also given before some types of major surgery. Heparin is sometimes used during kidney dialysis, and to prevent blood from clotting in certain blood sample tubes. Heparin is administered either in a vein, or as an injection under the skin, and is usually given in a hospital setting. While heparin does not dissolve clots, it can keep them from getting larger.
Heparin is prepared form either pig intestine or cow lung, according to the July, 14, 2004 issue of "Glycobiology." Its anticoagulant properties inhibit the formation of the two clotting proteins, thrombin and fibrin, reports RxList.com. Heparin can cause bleeding episodes, so patients must be periodically monitored.
Direct Thrombin Inhibitors
Direct thrombin inhibitors are used to prevent and treat a condition called heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. This is a low platelet count caused by the administration of heparin. Direct thrombin inhibitors are given by injection in the muscle, under the skin, or in a vein. This class of anticoagulants works by attaching to thrombin binding sites, directly lowering the production of thrombin. Hemorrhage is a risk when receiving direct thrombin inhibitors.
Other Anticoagulants
The anticoagulants EDTA, citrate, and oxalate are used in various blood collection tubes to keep blood from clotting during blood draw procedures.
References
- RxList.com: Coumadin
- Glycobiology: Isolation and characterization of a heparin with high anticoagulant activity from the clam Tapes phylippinarum: evidence for the presence of a high content of antithrombin III binding site ; Introduction
- RxList.com: Heparin clinical pharmacology
- RxList.com: Definition of Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
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