Anticoagulant Health Dictionary

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Anticoagulant: From 3 Different Sources

Inhibiting the clotting of blood
Health Source: Herbal Medical
Author: Health Dictionary
A medication or natural compound that slows or prevents the formation of blood clots. Examples: Heparin {endogenous), Dicumarol and warfarin (drugs), Melilotus (coumarin-containing).
Health Source: Medicinal Plants Glossary
Author: Health Dictionary
n. an agent that prevents the clotting of blood. The natural anticoagulant *heparin directly interferes with blood clotting and is active both within the body and against a sample of blood in a test tube. Synthetic drugs, such as *warfarin, are effective only within the body, since they act by affecting blood coagulation factors (see blood coagulation). They take longer to act than heparin. Anticoagulants are used to prevent the formation of blood clots or to break up clots in blood vessels in such conditions as thrombosis and embolism. Incorrect dosage may result in haemorrhage (see INR). See also direct oral anticoagulant; fibrinolytic.
Health Source: Oxford | Concise Colour Medical Dictionary
Author: Jonathan Law, Elizabeth Martin

Anticoagulants

Anticoagulants are drugs which inhibit COAGULATION of the blood. They are used to prevent and treat abnormal clotting of the blood, to treat THROMBOSIS, and sometimes to prevent or treat STROKE or TRANSIENT ISCHAEMIC ATTACKS OR EPISODES (TIA, TIE). Anticoagulant drugs are also prescribed preventively in major surgery to stop abnormal clotting from occurring; HAEMODIALYSIS is another procedure during which these drugs are used. Anticoagulants are also prescribed to prevent thrombi (clots) forming on prosthetic heart valves after heart surgery.

The drugs are much more e?ective in the treatment and prevention of venous clotting – for example, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), see under VEINS, DISEASES OF – than in preventing thrombosis formation in arteries with their fast-?owing blood in which thrombi contain little ?brin (against which the anticoagulants work) and many PLATELETS.

The main anticoagulants now in use are the natural agent HEPARIN (a quick-acting variety and a low-molecular-weight long-acting type); synthetic oral anticoagulants such as WARFARIN and the less-often-used acenocoumarol and PHENINDIONE; and antiplatelet compounds such as ASPIRIN, clopidogrel dipyridamole and ticlopidines. Fondaparinux is an extract of heparin which can be given once daily by injection; ximelagatran, an inhibitor of thrombin, is being trialled as the ?rst new oral anticoagulant since heparin.

Patients taking anticoagulants need careful medical monitoring and they should carry an Anticoagulant Card with instructions about the use of whatever drug they may be receiving – essential information should the individual require treatment for other medical conditions as well as for thrombosis.... anticoagulants

Anticoagulant Drugs

A group of drugs used to treat and prevent abnormal blood clotting, to treat thrombosis, and to prevent and treat stroke and transient ischaemic attack. Anticoagulant drugs are also given to prevent abnormal blood clotting after major surgery (especially heart-valve replacement) or during haemodialysis (see dialysis). The most common anticoagulants are heparin and the newer heparin-derived drugs, such as tinzaparin, all of which have to be given by injection, and warfarin, which is taken orally.

Excessive doses of anticoagulant drugs increase the risk of unwanted bleeding, and regular monitoring is needed.... anticoagulant drugs

Direct Oral Anticoagulant

(DOAC) a relatively recently introduced class of drugs that reduce coagulation of the blood by inhibition of one of the coagulation factors (Factor Xa). They may be used as an alternative to *warfarin in many (but not all) cases, their advantage being that regular blood tests are not required for dose adjustment. Examples include, apixaban, dabigatran, edoxaban, and rivaroxaban.... direct oral anticoagulant

Lupus Anticoagulant

one of several autoantibodies that can cause *antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS). Despite the name, the antibody behaves as a coagulant, increasing the risk of thrombosis. It can be found in 50% of patients with APS.... lupus anticoagulant

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