When your blood clots too easily, it can block arteries or veins—and that’s when anticoagulants, medications that slow down the blood’s clotting process to prevent dangerous clots. Also known as blood thinners, they don’t actually thin your blood—they just make it harder for clots to form. These drugs aren’t optional for people with atrial fibrillation, artificial heart valves, or a history of deep vein thrombosis. Skip them, and you risk stroke or pulmonary embolism. Take them wrong, and you could bleed internally without warning.
Not all anticoagulants are the same. aspirin, a common over-the-counter pain reliever that also blocks platelets to reduce clotting is often used for mild prevention, but it’s not strong enough for high-risk cases. For those, doctors turn to drugs like warfarin, apixaban, or rivaroxaban. Then there’s dual antiplatelet therapy, a combination of two antiplatelet drugs like aspirin and clopidogrel used after stent placement to keep arteries open. It’s powerful—but it also raises bleeding risk, which is why some patients need shorter treatment times or switch to safer alternatives based on their age, kidney function, or lifestyle.
People on anticoagulants often worry about bleeding. A cut that won’t stop, unexplained bruising, or dark stools can be signs something’s off. That’s why understanding your specific drug matters. Warfarin needs regular blood tests. Newer ones like Eliquis don’t, but they cost more. Some patients take them for life. Others stop after a few months once the clotting risk drops. And yes, natural options like fish oil or garlic can interfere—so always tell your doctor what you’re taking, even if it’s "just a supplement."
