Anticoagulants (overview)
Anticoagulants reduce clot formation via the coagulation cascade. They are widely used for stroke prevention and clot treatment.
Examples and notes
- Warfarin: requires INR monitoring; many drug/food interactions.
- DOACs (direct oral anticoagulants): apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, edoxaban — fixed dosing in many cases, but kidney function matters.
Emergency relevance
- Time since last dose matters.
- Kidney function can prolong effects for some drugs.
- Reversal strategies vary by drug and clinical scenario.
Return to Drug types overview.
Emergency rule of thumb: if there is potential for internal bleeding (especially head injury), get urgent assessment and disclose your blood thinner immediately.