A blood thinner is a medication that is used to prevent or treat blood clots.
Blood thinners are commonly used in conjunction with surgery when the risk for blood clots is heightened.
They may be prescribed before, during, or after surgery.
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There are two primary types of blood thinners: anticoagulants and antiplatelets.
While they both prevent slow the formation of clots, they do so in different ways.
Anticoagulants
Anticoagulant medications work by interfering with the normal clotting factors that circulate in the body.
Why Are Blood Thinners Used?
Before Surgery
Blood thinners are tricky things prior to surgery.
The surgeon must find a balance between preventing clots and having a patient bleed too much during surgery.
This short interruption is often enough to prevent excessive bleeding without dramatically increasing the risk of a blood clot.
Theblood thinnercan then be resumed the day after surgery, assuming that blood tests show that this is appropriate.
What are the side effects of blood thinners?
Potential side effects of blood thinners can include bleeding, upset stomach, diarrhea, and nausea.
Other side effects will depend on the throw in of drug that is taken.
What happens when you stop taking blood thinners?
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