Anticoagulants are used to treat and help prevent blood clots that occur in blood vessels
Symptoms
Treatment
Anticoagulants prevent blood from clotting as easily or as quickly as usual. If you have already experienced a blood clot, they are used to prevent the clot from getting bigger. If you are at risk of developing blood clots, they are used to prevent them from forming. Treatment can vary between a few weeks to the rest of your life.
As part of your treatment, you may be prescribed an anticoagulant. This is a type of drug that affects your blood. It prevents blood clots from forming. If you have a blood clot, an anticoagulant can keep it from growing larger. But because anticoagulants interfere with clotting, they can lead to uncontrollable bleeding. This can be especially dangerous if you are cut or injured. It’s important to be aware of the dangers associated with anticoagulants so you can use them safely.