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Anticoagulants are drugs that prevent the formation of blood clots, because they block the action of substances that promote clotting. Clots are essential to heal wounds and stop bleeding, but there are situations in which they can prevent blood circulation, causing serious diseases, such as stroke, thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, for example.
Thus, anticoagulants allow blood to always remain liquid within the vessels and can circulate freely, being recommended for people who have suffered diseases caused by clots or who are at greater risk of developing them.
The most commonly used are heparin, warfarin and rivaroxaban, which should be used with care and always with medical supervision, as its incorrect use can lead to the occurrence of severe bleeding.
Who should use
Anticoagulants should be used by people who are at a higher risk of developing a thrombus, such as those with cardiac arrhythmias or who use heart valve prostheses. They are also used to eliminate a thrombus that has already formed, as in cases of people with thrombosis, pulmonary embolism or infarction.
Main types of anticoagulants
Anticoagulants can be divided according to the route of administration and their form of action:
1. Injectable anticoagulants
Injectable anticoagulants such as heparin or fondaparinux are administered intravenously or subcutaneously.
These drugs are generally used to prevent venous thromboembolic disease in people who have undergone surgery, who have reduced mobility, to prevent thrombus formation during hemodialysis, or in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction.
Heparin can also be used in pregnant women to prevent thrombosis, as it does not interfere with the baby's formation
2. Oral anticoagulants
There are different types of oral anticoagulants, and your choice will depend on the doctor's assessment of their advantages and disadvantages for each person:
Types | Names | Benefits | Disadvantages |
Vitamin K inhibitors | Warfarin (Marevan, Coumadin); Acenocoumarol (Sintrom). | - Very used; - Cheaper; - Allow greater control of coagulation through examinations. | - Need to do regular coagulation control; - Doses need to be changed frequently, - Its effect can be altered by other medicines or foods rich in vitamin K. |
New anticoagulants | Rivaroxaban (Xarelto); Dabigatran (Pradaxa); Apixabana (Eliquis). | - It is not necessary to make regular control of coagulation; - Single daily doses; - May have fewer side effects. | - More expensive; - Contraindicated in several diseases; - They have no antidotes. |
In the case of vitamin K inhibitors, coagulation control should normally be done once a month or according to medical advice.
Natural anticoagulant remedies
There are some herbal substances, popularly known as capable of "thinning" the blood and reducing the risk of clots, such as Ginkgo biloba or Dong quai, for example.
These plants can be used in teas or ingested in the form of capsules, sold in health food stores. However, its use should not replace drugs prescribed by the doctor, and should not be used in conjunction with other anticoagulants.
In addition, they should only be taken after the doctor's knowledge, as they may interfere with the action of other medications, and, like other medications, these herbal medicines should be stopped in the preoperative period of any surgery.
Care during treatment
During treatment with anticoagulants, it is important to:
- Report to the doctor whenever there are changes in the diet or in the use of medications so as not to deregulate the action of the anticoagulant;
- Avoid mixing two types of anticoagulants, except in cases of medical indication;
- Pay attention to signs of bleeding, such as excessive spots on the skin, bleeding gums, blood in the urine or stool and, if any of them are present, seek medical attention.
Some foods rich in vitamin K reduce the action of certain anticoagulants, such as warfarin, and care should be taken in their consumption. However, as the dose of anticoagulant is adjustable to the needs of each person, it is not necessary to stop the consumption of all these foods, but rather to avoid a sudden change in diet, maintaining a constant amount in the diet.
Examples of these foods are dark green and leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale, lettuce, in addition to cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower, for example. See the full list of foods rich in vitamin K.
Home remedies that should not be used with anticoagulants
It is common for some people to use herbal medicines or home remedies, without medical advice, on a daily basis, because they think they are natural and that they are not harmful. However, some of them can interact, usually intensifying, the effect of anticoagulants, which causes a risk of bleeding, putting the person's life at risk.
Thus, people who use anticoagulant or anti-aggregating drugs, should take special care when taking home remedies or food supplements prepared based on:
- Garlic;
- Ginkgo Biloba;
- Ginseng;
- Red sage;
- Guaco;
- Dong Quai or Chinese Angelica;
- Horse chestnut;
- Bilberry;
- Guarana;
- Arnica.
Due to this type of interaction between medications and natural remedies, it is important to only take medications after the doctor's indication or approval.