Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

How does it work? of Anticoagulant drugs

Warfarin is a commonly prescribed anticoagulant drug, taken in tablet form, to slow the time of clotting in the blood. It interferes with the body’s natural chemical process of clotting, by targeting an essential substance called vitamin K.

Aspirin is often prescribed after a person has had a first heart attack, to reduce the likelihood of further attacks. A low dose of aspirin, usually taken in tablet form, works by reducing the stickiness of tiny cells in the blood, called platelets.

Heparin occurs naturally in the blood. It is also used as a drug, through injections or a drip into a vein. This has an effect on the substance thrombin, which is part of the chemical process that causes clotting. By increasing heparin levels in the blood, the time taken for a clot to form is increased. It is most often used for treating deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

A combination of different anticoagulant drugs may be used.

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