Direct Oral AntiCoagulants
Anticoagulants are medicines that help prevent blood clots. They're given to people at a high risk of getting clots, to reduce their chances of developing serious conditions such as strokes and heart attacks.
A blood clot is a seal created by the blood to stop bleeding from wounds. While they're useful in stopping bleeding, they can block blood vessels and stop blood flowing to organs such as the brain, heart or lungs if they form in the wrong place.
Anticoagulants work by interrupting the process involved in the formation of blood clots. They're sometimes called "blood-thinning" medicines, although they don't actually make the blood thinner.
Although they're used for similar purposes, anticoagulants are different to antiplatelet medicines, such as low-dose aspirin and clopidogrel.
More information can be accessed below:
Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke Prevention
Preventing AF-Related Stroke: Anticoagulation
Apixaban (Eliquis) AF Counselling Checklist
Apixaban (Eliquis) VTE Counselling Checklist
Dabigatran (Pradaxa) AF Counselling Checklist
Edoxaban (Lixiana) AF Counselling Checklist
Edoxaban (Lixiana) VTE Counselling Checklist
Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) AF Counselling Checklist
Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) VTE Counselling Checklist
Atrial fibrillation: medicines to help reduce your risk of a stroke – what are the options?