anticoagulants

Question 1

Anticoagulants

Answer 1

are a type of ‘anti-clotting’
medication used for a number of different
underlying disease processes, with the
overall outcome to be prevent blood clots.

Question 2

diseases that may need anticoagulants

Answer 2

– AF
– CCF
– PE
– DVT
– Pre/Post-surgical procedures

Question 3

major anticoagulation meds

Answer 3

• Warfarin – Vitamin K Antagonists
• Heparin
• Enoxaparin (Clexane) – Low-molecular-weight
Heparin (LMWH)
• Rivaroxaban – Direct Factor Xa Inhibitor

Question 4

Warfarin (Vitamin K Antagonists)

Answer 4

• Brand names: Coumadin & Marevan
• Action: Suppresses the vitamin K
dependent synthesis of prothrombin and
Factors VII, IX and X in the liver. This
prevents the extension of already
established clots and the formation of new
clots.
• Use: DVT, PE and AF

Question 5

Monitoring of Warfarin

Answer 5

• Dose: Dosing of warfarin is dependent upon a patients
international normalized ratio (INR) result.
• The INR is a blood test of the blood’s ability to clot. The
aim for a patient on Warfarin is to maintain an
elevated INR in a certain range eg, 2.0 to 3.0.

Question 6

Heparin

Answer 6

• Availability: Heparin or Heparinised Saline
• Action: Direct anticoagulant which increases the
effect of naturally occurring coagulation inhibitors,
antiFactor Xa and antithrombin III. This slows the
conversion of Prothrombin to thrombin and
Fibrinogen to Fibrin.
• Use: DVT, PE, prophylactic treatment for DVT postsurgery and it is added to blood collected for
transfusion.

Question 7

Enoxaparin (Clexane)

Answer 7

• Availability: Pre-made syringe of 20, 40, 60, 80, 100,
120mg.
• Action: Also a low-molecular-weight-heparin, however
its antithrombotic action does not significantly change
PT, APTT or platelet aggregation.
• Use: Prophylaxis of DVT development after surgery or
acutely ill bedridden patients, unstable angina and STEMI.
• Dose: Normally 40mg SC for prophylaxis or 1mg/kg SC
for STEMI or unstable angina.

Question 8

Antiplatelet medication

Answer 8

inhibit any unwanted
thrombus formation by decreasing platelet
aggregation. This group of medication scan be split
into three groups.

– Aspirin
– Clopidogrel