anticoagulants

Question 1

Anticoagulants

Answer 1

• disrupt the coagulation cascade, thereby suppressing the production of fibrin and prevents thrombosis in the VEINS
• includes medications like heparin, warfarin, and dabigatran

Question 2

Unfractioned Heparin

Answer 2

• rapid acting anticoagulant that is administered by injection only
• used in all types of scenarios with emoblisms and thrombosis, most importantly it is the preferred anticoagulant during pregnancy
• adverse effects include hemorrhage, heparin induced thrombocytopenia, and hypersensitive reactions
• DO NOT GIVE IF thrombocytopenia, uncontrolled bleeding, during or after surgery
• antidote is protamine sulfate

Question 3

LMW Heparin

Answer 3

• basically a shorter acting Heparin
• used in prevention of DVT, treatment of DVT, and prevention of ischemic complications
• administered SubQ
• same antidote as heparin
• can be given at home without monitoring
• same basic adverse effects as unfractioned heparin

Question 4

Warfarin (Coumadin)

Answer 4

• oral anticoagulant
• vitamin k antagonist that is used to prevent thrombosis (only useful for long term, not short term)
• when monitoring treatment must monitor prothrombin time and INR
• adverse effects include hemmorrhage, SEVERE PROBLEMS DURING PREGNANCY AND LACTATION
• interacts with other anticoagulants, drugs that promote bleeding, heparin, aspirin, and acet
• overdose is treated with vitamin k

Question 5

Direct thrombin inhibitors

Answer 5

• provide direct inhibition of thrombin unlike heparin which enhances the activity of antithrombin
• includes pradaxa which is the most common drug
• does not require monitoring of anticoagulation, little risk of adverse reactions, and same does can be used for all patients
• can be used for afib, prevention of clot formation, DVT, etc.
• most common adverse effect is bleeding

Question 6

Direct Factor Xa inhibitors

Answer 6

• produce selective inhibition of factor Xa
• most common is Xarleto
• given orally
• treats DVT and pulmonary embolism