Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUsesBefore SurgeryDuring SurgeryAfter SurgeryTestingCommon Blood ThinnersFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Uses
Before Surgery
During Surgery
After Surgery
Testing
Common Blood Thinners
Frequently Asked Questions
Ablood thinneris a medication that is used to prevent or treat blood clots. There are two primary types of blood thinners, anticoagulants, and antiplatelets. While they both prevent the clotting of blood, or more accurately, slow the formation of clots, they do so in different ways.
Anticoagulants
Anticoagulants are more aggressive than antiplatelet medications, so this type of medication is used when a patient requires the blood to be “thinner”.
Here’s How to Get Rid of Blood Clots
Antiplatelets
With an antiplatelet medication in circulation, the broadcast of the signal is both delayed and the “volume” is turned down, so fewer platelets respond.
Why Are Blood Thinners Used?
Surgery is a known risk factor for the formation of blood clots, as the patient is often still for extended periods of time during surgery, and for hours or days following the procedure. Being immobile is a known risk factor for the formation ofblood clots, so the prevention of clots is an important part of perioperative surgical care.
For some patients, blood thinners are used to thin the blood, which makes it take longer for the blood to clot. For other patients, blood thinners are used to prevent a clot that is already present from worsening (and to prevent additional clots from forming).
Blood tests determine if a blood thinner is needed and the dose that should be given.
Some patients will require blood thinners for extended periods of time, such as a patient who has a heart rhythm called atrial Fibrillation. For others, such as patients who recently had surgery, they may blood thinner while they are hospitalized but never need it again.
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.
For some patients who routinely take a blood thinner prior to surgery, the dose of blood thinners that are typically taken each day is stopped at least 24 hours, and up to a week, prior to the surgery.
This short interruption is often enough to prevent excessive bleeding without dramatically increasing the risk of a blood clot.
However, if warfarin is used, it would be stopped five to seven days before surgery, with a transition to something short-acting like Lovenox.This requires a lot of planning on the part of the patient and surgeon.
The blood thinner can then be resumed the day after surgery, assuming that blood tests show that this is appropriate.
Lovenox (Enoxaparin) vs. Heparin for Blood Clots
Blood thinners do increase bleeding during surgery, so that must be taken into account before giving this type of medication when blood loss is an expected part of the surgery.
Blood thinners are frequently used after surgery to prevent blood clots in the legs, called deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and other types of blood clots. Blood clots should always be taken seriously because one clot can turn into many clots, or a clot in a leg can move and become a clot in the lung.
A heart that isn’t beating in a normal rhythm can also cause clots to form that cause a stroke, so the way that blood clot is very closely monitored for the best possible outcome.
12 Commonly Prescribed Blood Thinners
Testing for Thin Blood
There are three blood tests that are used to test the blood for clotting. These tests are called Prothrombin Time (PT), Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT) and the International Normalized Ratio (INR).
You may also hear these tests referred to as “clotting studies”, “clotting times” or “PTPTTINR” as they are often ordered together.
David Silverman / Getty Images
Among the most commonly used blood-thinning medications are the following:
Typically, after surgery, Heparin is given as a shot in the abdomen two to three times a day. In some cases, Lovenox is used in lieu of Heparin, but in the vast majority of cases, one or the other is administered during a hospital recovery.
For patients who are immediately discharged home after a surgical procedure, a blood thinner may or may not be prescribed as the expectation is that the patient is walking throughout the day, which dramatically decreases the risk of blood clots.
A Word From Verywell
If you have concerns about receiving blood thinners or are unsure about why you are receiving them, it is important to speak with your healthcare team.
Issues with blood clots can be a serious risk with some surgeries and are less common with other types ofsurgery, which means blood thinners may or may not be essential for you depending on the nature of your procedure and your state of health.
These medications do come with risks, but the risk of a blood clot may be even higher in some situations.
Frequently Asked QuestionsNo, blood thinners do not lower blood pressure. However, since everyone can have different reactions to medication, it’s important to let your healthcare provider know about each drug that you take.Potential side effects of blood thinners can include bleeding, upset stomach, diarrhea, and nausea. Other side effects will depend on the type of drug that is taken. Don’t hesitate to call your healthcare provider if you experience any of these side effects while using a blood thinner.Depending on how long a drug’s effects last, the risk of developing a blood clot can increase when you stop taking blood thinners. In the first 90 days of stopping treatment with warfarin, there is a greater risk of thrombo-embolic events taking place, such asdeep vein thrombosis.Yes, you can get a blood clot while on blood thinners. However, this is only likely to happen if your assigned dose is too small. On the opposite end of the spectrum, taking too much blood thinner medication can cause bleeding. Doctors who prescribe blood thinners will perform regular blood tests to ensure that each person’s dosage is right for them.The length of time that blood thinners stay in your system depends on the type of drug that is taken. For example, after stopping warfarin, the drug may continue its effects for two to five days.
No, blood thinners do not lower blood pressure. However, since everyone can have different reactions to medication, it’s important to let your healthcare provider know about each drug that you take.
Potential side effects of blood thinners can include bleeding, upset stomach, diarrhea, and nausea. Other side effects will depend on the type of drug that is taken. Don’t hesitate to call your healthcare provider if you experience any of these side effects while using a blood thinner.
Depending on how long a drug’s effects last, the risk of developing a blood clot can increase when you stop taking blood thinners. In the first 90 days of stopping treatment with warfarin, there is a greater risk of thrombo-embolic events taking place, such asdeep vein thrombosis.
Yes, you can get a blood clot while on blood thinners. However, this is only likely to happen if your assigned dose is too small. On the opposite end of the spectrum, taking too much blood thinner medication can cause bleeding. Doctors who prescribe blood thinners will perform regular blood tests to ensure that each person’s dosage is right for them.
The length of time that blood thinners stay in your system depends on the type of drug that is taken. For example, after stopping warfarin, the drug may continue its effects for two to five days.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Barron, C.Knowing the difference between anticoagulants and anti platelets.Journal of the American Health Information Management Association.University of California Department of Surgery.Deep vein thrombosis.Harvard Medical School.Managing your medication before a surgical procedure.Harvard Health Publications.Douketis J and Gregory YHL.Preoperative management of patients receiving anticoagulants.Cedars-Sinai.Surgery of the heart.Hughes M, Lip GY.Stroke and thromboembolism in atrial fibrillation: a systematic review of stroke risk factors, risk stratification schema and cost effectiveness data.Thromb Haemost. 2008;99(2):295-304. doi:10.1160/TH07-08-0508MedlinePlus.Blood thinners.Raunsø J, Selmer C, Olesen JB, Charlot MG, & et al.Increased short-term risk of thrombo-embolism or death after interruption of warfarin treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation.European Heart Journal.2012;33(15): 1886–1892. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehs032Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).Blood thinner pills: Your guide to using them safely.MedlinePlus.Warfarin.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Barron, C.Knowing the difference between anticoagulants and anti platelets.Journal of the American Health Information Management Association.University of California Department of Surgery.Deep vein thrombosis.Harvard Medical School.Managing your medication before a surgical procedure.Harvard Health Publications.Douketis J and Gregory YHL.Preoperative management of patients receiving anticoagulants.Cedars-Sinai.Surgery of the heart.Hughes M, Lip GY.Stroke and thromboembolism in atrial fibrillation: a systematic review of stroke risk factors, risk stratification schema and cost effectiveness data.Thromb Haemost. 2008;99(2):295-304. doi:10.1160/TH07-08-0508MedlinePlus.Blood thinners.Raunsø J, Selmer C, Olesen JB, Charlot MG, & et al.Increased short-term risk of thrombo-embolism or death after interruption of warfarin treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation.European Heart Journal.2012;33(15): 1886–1892. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehs032Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).Blood thinner pills: Your guide to using them safely.MedlinePlus.Warfarin.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Barron, C.Knowing the difference between anticoagulants and anti platelets.Journal of the American Health Information Management Association.University of California Department of Surgery.Deep vein thrombosis.Harvard Medical School.Managing your medication before a surgical procedure.Harvard Health Publications.Douketis J and Gregory YHL.Preoperative management of patients receiving anticoagulants.Cedars-Sinai.Surgery of the heart.Hughes M, Lip GY.Stroke and thromboembolism in atrial fibrillation: a systematic review of stroke risk factors, risk stratification schema and cost effectiveness data.Thromb Haemost. 2008;99(2):295-304. doi:10.1160/TH07-08-0508MedlinePlus.Blood thinners.Raunsø J, Selmer C, Olesen JB, Charlot MG, & et al.Increased short-term risk of thrombo-embolism or death after interruption of warfarin treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation.European Heart Journal.2012;33(15): 1886–1892. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehs032Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).Blood thinner pills: Your guide to using them safely.MedlinePlus.Warfarin.
Barron, C.Knowing the difference between anticoagulants and anti platelets.Journal of the American Health Information Management Association.
University of California Department of Surgery.Deep vein thrombosis.
Harvard Medical School.Managing your medication before a surgical procedure.Harvard Health Publications.
Douketis J and Gregory YHL.Preoperative management of patients receiving anticoagulants.
Cedars-Sinai.Surgery of the heart.
Hughes M, Lip GY.Stroke and thromboembolism in atrial fibrillation: a systematic review of stroke risk factors, risk stratification schema and cost effectiveness data.Thromb Haemost. 2008;99(2):295-304. doi:10.1160/TH07-08-0508
MedlinePlus.Blood thinners.
Raunsø J, Selmer C, Olesen JB, Charlot MG, & et al.Increased short-term risk of thrombo-embolism or death after interruption of warfarin treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation.European Heart Journal.2012;33(15): 1886–1892. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehs032
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).Blood thinner pills: Your guide to using them safely.
MedlinePlus.Warfarin.
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