Recently, however, several other medications known as novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are readily available. For decades, the blood thinners of choice were Coumadin (warfarin) and heparin. There are a variety of blood thinners, some of the major types include: vitamin K antagonists (coumarins), heparin or low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), direct thrombin inhibitors, and factor Xa inhibitors.

Genetic or acquired hypercoagulable states.

Heart valve surgeries and certain heart valves.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI or “heart attack”).

This ability makes blood thinners an important class of medications for the treatment, prevention, or management of a variety of medical conditions including, but not limited to: The usefulness of blood thinners comes from their power to prevent blood clots and reduce or eliminate blood clots that have already formed in your veins, arteries, or organs. Simply put, blood thinners stop blood clots. Blood thinners, also called anticoagulants, are a class of medications that “thin” or prolong the time it takes for your blood to form a blood clot. When deciding what type of blood thinner is best, the question of Eliquis versus Warfarin often arises.

Coumadin antidote