Anticoagulants Flashcards
Physiologic process of stopping bleeding due to blood vessel injury; injury can be internal or external
Hemostasis
Anticoagulants are drugs that activate ____-_______
Includes:
Activate anti-thrombin
Include:
- Heparin
- Low Molecular Weight Heparins (LMV) - Lovenox
Heparin (Part 1)
-MOA:
Suppresses coagulation by helping anti-thrombin inactivate clotting factors, mainly thrombin and factor Xa
-Absorption:
Must be given IV or subQ since it does not cross membranes and cannot be absorbed. Does not enter the placenta or breast milk.
Short half-life (about 1.5 hours except if hepatic or renal damage)
-Indications:
Use in situations requiring RAPID suppression of coagulation
Ex. PE, evolving stroke, DVT, DIC, open heart surgery, renal dialysis, after surgery
Heparin Adverse Reactions include:
- Hemorrhage
- Spinal/Epidural Hematoma
- Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia
Heparin Adverse Reactions (Hemorrhage)
- Check aPTT (activated partial thromboplastin time) before giving
- Pt value should be 1 1/2-2x control (control = 30-45 sec) so approx. 60-80 sec
- Call HCP if dosage is held (usually never hold heparin unless pt is externally bleeding!)
- Assess pt for low B/P, broken capillaries in the eyes, bruising, petechiae, hematomas, blood in stools/urine, bloody nose
- aPTT will be measured q6-q8h if on continuous IV heparin
Heparin Adverse Reaction (Spinal/Epidural hematoma)
risk is especially high for those with an epidural catheter (for pain); use of other anticoagulants, use of antiplatelet drugs, Hx of spinal trauma.
Heparin Adverse Reaction (Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia - HIT)
HIT is an immune mediated disorder with thrombocytopenia and a paradoxical INCREASE in thrombotic events.
The underlying cause is development of antibodies against heparin- platelet protein complexes which activate platelets and damage the vascular endothelium.
(monitor for low platelet cts); can cause death
Heparin antidote:
PROTAMINE SULFTATE
- Given by slow IV injection (20mg/min or 50mg/in 10 min)
- Protamine binds ionically with heparin to neutralize anticoagulation action, up to 2 hours
Heparin (Part 2)
-Contraindications: do not use in thrombocytopenia, uncontrollable bleeding, in hemophilia, pt with eye, brain, or spinal cord surgery
-Administration:
Given in UNITS. IV continuous, IV push intermittent doses, SQ, Hep lock/hep flush (100 units/ml for flush)
- SubQ given in abdomen, 2 inches away from umbilicus. Keep pressure on site. Do not massage
- Dosage: 5,000-10,000 Units/q6h or SC; 25,000 units per 500 ml IV
- 2nd most common med error in nursing
Low Molecular Weight Heparin includes:
LOVENOX, fragmin, and tinzaparin
LMW Heparin:
- Fixed dose, no blood monitoring, longer half-life than Heparin
- Pt can be taught to inject at home unlike heparin
- MOA: the molecules are short and do not have quite the same effect as unfractionated heparin. LMW do not inactivate thrombin as well as heparin can.
- Given SubQ in abdomen based on body weight
- Can cause HIT, overdosage treated with PROTAMINE SULFATE. Major side effect is bleeding (duh)
- Can cause permanent paralysis when undergoing spinal puncture/anesthesia. Cost $63/day compared to $8/day for unfractionated heparin but no blood monitoring costs tends to level out the costs
Warfarin (Coumadin)
-MOA:
Suppresses coagulation by decreasing production of factors VII, IX, X and prothrombin, all of which need Vitamin K to be produced. Warfarin inhibits the enzyme (VKORC1) needed to convert Vitamin K to the active form. Warfarin does NOT inhibit Vitamin K action directly;
-Indications:
Long term prevention of thrombosis, Prevention of thrombosis in pts with prosthetic heart valves; prevention of clotting in Atrial fibrillation. Reduces the risk of TIA’s and recurrent MI’s .
-Monitoring: Prothrombin Time (very sensitive to alterations in Vitamin K levels. Normal PT is about 12; desired level is 1 1/2-2X control. (adjusted similarly to heparin except coumadin is oral ). More commonly used now is INR (international normalized ratio) which corrects for thromboplastin variability.
Monitoring Coumadin
Normal INR is 1.1
- INR 2-3 X normal except may be higher depending on guidelines from the Cardiovascular Society issuing physician treatment guidelines based on research. (Sliding scale as with heparin).
- PT levels change quicker, INR takes a week or more to change when coumadin dosages are being changed.
- PT is checked daily, while the dosages are being adjusted
Adverse Effects of Coumadin
- Hemorrhage - any bodily secretion or orifice
- Pregnancy - can cause fetal bleeding, death and teratogenesis (use heparin instead)
Coumadin Drug-Drug interactions
-MANY
- Drugs that increase effects of coumadin DISPLACE the drug from albumin:
- (ex. aspirin, sulfonamides, acetaminophen, azole, etc)
-Drugs that decrease effects of coumadin - cephalosporins
99% bound to albumin