People that have risk of stroke, or have suffered from previous strokes are often given anticoagulants. This is done because anticoagulants decrease the clotting ability of the blood; which in turn reduces risk of stroke because with decreased ability to clot it is less likely that harmful clots will form in the blood vessels. Due to what they do, these medicines are often called blood thinners; however, they do not actually thin the blood, so there is no need to worry about that. One misconception people have about anticoagulants is they then will dissolve clots that already have formed, but this is not the case. They may, however, prevent the clots from becoming larger and causing more serious problems.
Anticoagulants are not the cure-all for stroke and other blood clot related diseases. In fact, anticoagulants must be used properly in order to help you without causing serious bleeding. All of the precautions concerning anticoagulant use must be followed to the letter, or you could put yourself at serious risk.
Anticoagulants have many different forms and names. The following are some of the generic names of anticoagulants:
For the anticoagulants that are taken orally you have.
– Acenocoumarol, this name is used in Canada, and is found in the tablet form.
– Anisindione, this name is used in the U.S., and is found in the tablet form.
– Dicumarol, this is another name for an anticoagulant used in the U.S. that is in the tablet form.
– Warfarin, this name is used in both Canada and the U.S., and is an anticoagulant that is found in the tablet form, or can be injected.
Some of the commonly found brand names include:
– Coumadin
– Miradon
– Sinatron
– Warfilone
While the needed effects of anticoagulants can be life saving, there are also some unwanted side effects. Some are common, others rare; some can be taken care of on your own, others require immediate medical attention.
With any kind of medication you take, but especially one that effects your blood, watch for signs of unusual bleeding. If you do have unusual bleeding, this may mean that your body is getting more medicine than it needs, so you should take to your doctor about lowering your dosage. Unusual bleeding that may indicate this are as follows:
– Bleeding from gums when brushing teeth;
– blood in urine;
– nosebleeds;
– pinpoint red spots on skin;
– unusual bleeding or bruising when scraped;
– unusually heavy bleeding or oozing from cuts or wounds;
– unusually heavy or unexpected menstrual bleeding
Not every unusual bleeding is visible from the outside. There are often signs and symptoms of bleeding inside the body that would be dose-related and mean that you should cut back your dosage. To know if you are having unusual bleeding on the inside, look for these symptoms, and consult your doctor:
– Abdominal or stomach pain or swelling;
– back pain or backaches;
– black, tarry stools;
– bleeding in eye;
– blood in stools;
– blood in vomit or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
– blood in urine;
– blurred vision;
– chest pain;
– confusion;
– constipation;
– coughing up blood;
– diarrhea (sudden and severe);
– dizziness or fainting;
– headache (continuing or severe);
– joint pain, stiffness, or swelling;
– loss of appetite;
– nausea and vomiting (severe);
– nervousness;
– numbness or tingling of hands, feet, or face;
– paralysis;
– shortness of breath;
– weakness (sudden)
Different medicines effect people differently, however, with anticoagulants, you will want to at the very leastcheck with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
– Cough or hoarseness;
– fever or chills;
– lower back or side pain;
– painful or difficult urination;
– skin rash, hives, or itching
Rare
– Blisters or itching on skin;
– blue or purple toes;
– dark urine;
– pain in toes;
– painful red sores on skin, especially on thighs, breasts, penis, or buttocks;
– sores, ulcers, or white spots in mouth or throat;
– sudden increase or decrease in amount of urine;
– swelling of face, feet, and/or lower legs;
– trouble in breathing;
– yellow eyes or skin
Side effects that sometimes occur when taking anticoagulants, but usually do not need medical attention because they should go away as your body adjusts to the medicine include:
– Bloated stomach or gas;
– cold intolerance;
– diarrhea (more common with dicumarol) ;
– loss of appetite;
– nausea or vomiting (more common with dicumarol);
– stomach cramps or pain