Anticoagulants Flashcards
What is heparin?
Anti-thrombin activator (Indirect thrombin inhibitor)
Enhances antithrombin III activity, inactivating thrombin and factor Xa
What are the indications for heparin?
Prevention/treatment of thrombosis, acute MI management
What are the side effects of heparin?
Bleeding, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), osteoporosis with long-term use
What type of medication is warfarin?
Vitamin K antagonist
It inhibits vitamin K epoxide reductase.
What is the mechanism of action of warfarin?
It inhibits vitamin K epoxide reductase in the liver therefore reducing synthesis of clotting factors (II, VII, IX, and X)
Affects intrinsic, extrinsic, and common pathway.
What are the indications for warfarin?
Atrial fibrillation, prosthetic valves, thromboembolism prevention
What are the risks associated with warfarin?
Bleeding risk, numerous food and drug interactions; requires regular INR monitoring
INR should be around 2-3 on warfarin
What type of medication is dabigatran?
Known by the brand name Pradaxa.
Direct thrombin inhibitor
Known by the brand name Pradaxa.
What is the mechanism of action of dabigatran?
Directly binds to and inhibits thrombin, preventing conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin
What are the indications for dabigatran?
Stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial fibrillation, VTE treatment
What are the risks associated with dabigatran?
Bleeding risk, dyspepsia; consider renal function (reversal agent idarucizumab available)
What is Heparin’s MoA?
Enhances antithrombin III activity, inactivating thrombin and factor Xa
