Anticoagulants (Systemic)

Category

• Anticoagulant - Acenocoumarol; Anisindione; Dicumarol; Warfarin

Description

Anticoagulants decrease the clotting ability of the blood and therefore help to prevent harmful clots from forming in the blood vessels. These medicines are sometimes called blood thinners, although they do not actually thin the blood. They also will not dissolve clots that already have formed, but they may prevent the clots from becoming larger and causing more serious problems. They are often used as treatment for certain blood vessel, heart, and lung conditions.

In order for an anticoagulant to help you without causing serious bleeding, it must be used properly and all of the precautions concerning its use must be followed exactly. Be sure that you have discussed the use of this medicine with your doctor. It is very important that you understand all of your doctor's orders and that you are willing and able to follow them exactly.

Anticoagulants are available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage forms:

Oral
• Acenocoumarol
  • Tablets (Canada)
• Anisindione
  • Tablets (U.S.)
• Dicumarol
  • Tablets (U.S.)
• Warfarin
  • Tablets (U.S. and Canada)

Parenteral
• Warfarin
  • Injection (U.S. and Canada)

Brand Names

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S. -

• Coumadin ⁴
• Miradon ²

In Canada -

• Coumadin ⁴
• Sintrom ¹
• Warfilone ⁴

Other commonly used names are nicoumalone and dicoumarol .

This information does not apply to ardeparin, dalteparin, danaparoid, enoxaparin, or heparin.