Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Side effects of Anticoagulant drugs

A side effect common to all anticoagulants is the risk of excessive bleeding (haemorrhages), due to the blood being thinned. This is why people taking anticoagulants should be closely monitored to check that they are on the correct dosage of their drug. The most common test is the INR.

Warfarin can interfere with other medications and also with alcohol. It may not be effective if too much vitamin K is taken by the patient (through food or supplements) and it is not usually taken in pregnancy because there are increased risks of foetal abnormalities.

Long term use of aspirin is associated with damage to the stomach lining, which may lead to internal bleeding in the digestive system. Aspirin should only be taken long-term on the advice of a doctor, and any possible side effects should be monitored by your GP.

Although it occurs naturally within the body, extra amounts of heparin can have a number of side effects including hair loss and osteoporosis.

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