Blood thinning medications help to prevent blood clots and stroke in patients who have heart and blood vessel diseases. MedlinePlus describes the specific types of diseases for which doctors prescribe blood thinners: history or serious risk of heart attack or stroke, atrial fibrillation, heart valve surgery and congenital heart defects. There are two major types of blood thinner drugs available that have different mechanisms of action.
Oral Antiocoagulants
The word "anticoagulant" means to prevent thickening into a solid; thus, anticoagulant medications work by decreasing the blood's ability to clot, according to the Texas Heart Institute. These medications increase the time it takes for blood to clot and reduce the risk of a harmful blood clot forming in the blood vessels. Clots may result in stroke or heart attack, depending upon where the clot forms. Some anticoagulants come in pill form and can be taken orally, and include drugs such as Plavix, made by the pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb.
Injectable Anticoagulants
The Texas Heart Institute reports that more powerful anticoagulants like heparin cannot be taken in pill form, and must be injected intravenously. Only medical professionals administer this type of blood thinner. The Texas Heart Institute warns that certain complications are possible from injected blood thinning medications.
Antiplatelets
MedlinePlus reports that another type of blood thinning medication is called an antiplatelet drug. This type of drug prevents platelets from sticking together, which is the first step in blood clotting. One type of antiplatelet drug is aspirin, made by the pharmaceutical company Bayer. Bayer reports that aspirin has been shown to prevent both first and second heart attacks in people suffering from coronary heart disease.
