Blood thinners - effect, areas of application & instructions for use

Blood thinners protect against thrombosis and strokes - find out more about the active ingredients, risks and what you should be aware of when taking them.

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Wissenswertes über "Blood thinners"

Blood thinners are drugs that inhibit the clumping of blood platelets (thrombocytes) or slow down the clotting of the blood in order to prevent thromboses, strokes or heart attacks.

The term "blood thinner" is colloquial - the blood does not really become thinner, but less coagulable. The correct medical terms are anticoagulants and platelet aggregation inhibitors.

The most common anticoagulants include:

Heparin (mostly used in clinics for acute treatment)
Vitamin K antagonists such as phenprocoumon (e.g. B. Marcumar)
Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) such as apixaban, rivaroxaban or dabigatran

The platelet aggregation inhibitors, such as acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) or clopidogrel, inhibit the aggregation of blood platelets and are primarily used in the secondary prevention of heart attacks or strokes. They are used for atrial fibrillation, thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, artificial heart valves, after stent implantation or in the case of certain genetic coagulation disorders.

It is important to be checked regularly by a doctor when using blood thinners, as they can increase the risk of bleeding. The risk of bleeding must be carefully considered, especially in the case of surgery, dental treatment or injuries. Some blood thinners also require continuous monitoring of the INR value or kidney function tests to ensure the correct dosage.

Important facts about blood thinners:

Differentiation between anticoagulants and platelet inhibitors
Use in thrombosis, atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, stroke prevention
Known active ingredients: Heparin, Marcumar, Apixaban, ASS
Risk: increased bleeding tendency, medical check-up necessary
Some active substances require regular laboratory checks

Literature references

Deutsche Herzstiftung (2023). "Blutverdünner - Wirkstoffe, Wirkung, Risiken."
Schulman, S. & Kearon, C. (2005). "Definition of major bleeding in clinical investigations of antihemostatic medicinal products in non-surgical patients." Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
Ageno, W. et al. (2012). "Oral anticoagulants in clinical practice." Journal of the American College of Cardiology.