Anticoagulants Flashcards
What do Anticoagulants do?
What is their MOA?
NOT a blood thinner
Anticoagulants: Does NOT dissolve clots. Suppress fibrin production, prevent clots from forming.
Just helps the future formation of clots, not the current clots the pt has
Increase time it takes the body to form clots
MOA: Inhibit synthesis clotting factors (factor X and thrombin) or
Inhibit the activity of clotting factors (Xa, thrombin)
What do Antiplatelets do?
What is their MOA?
Antiplatelets: inhibit platelet aggregation (stickiness).
What are Thrombolytics?
Thrombolytics: Lysis of fibrin, dissolves life threatening clots
What are Antiplatelets good for?
Good for Arterial Thrombus (MI, stroke)
Which drug would you use for prevention of venous thrombosis: DVT, pulmonary embolism, atrial fibrillation?
Anticoagulants
MOA of Heparin (unfractionated)?
Inactivates several clotting factors (factor Xa) as well as stops thrombin activity and stops formation of fibrin.
How is Heparin administered?
What is the onset for each route?
How long does it last?
Measured in units Must be given SQ or IV IV: immediate action SQ: up to 1 hour for effect (in abdomen) Half life 90 minutes
Antidote for Heparin?
Antidote: protamine sulfate (onset 5 min)
What lab values should you monitor with Heparin?
aPTT: measuring intrinsic pathway
Normal 40 sec
Therapeutic levels- 1.5-2X baseline (60-80 sec)
IV heparin: measure aPTT Q 6 hours
Just an FYI: Anti-factor Xa levels: therapeutic levels= 0.3-0.7 IU/mL
SE of Heparin?
What should you watch out for if someone if on heparin for 4 or more days?
SE: bleeding, heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)
HIT- monitor platelets. If <100,000 or platelets reduce by 50% then stop heparin.
Heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT): if someone is on heparin usually 4 days, body creates antibodies against heparin platelet protein complexes
