Experts state that the tendency for clot formation in the body can increase due to various reasons, and these clots can break off and block blood vessels leading to vital organs like the heart, brain, and kidneys, causing serious problems such as heart attack and stroke (paralysis). Medical Pharmacology specialist Prof. Dr. Güner Ulak says, “Since blood thinners disrupt the coagulation system through various mechanisms, their most serious side effect is bleeding.”
Prof. Dr. Güner Ulak from Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Pharmacology, provided information about blood thinners and their areas of use.
Prof. Dr. Güner Ulak stated that the tendency for clot formation in the body can increase due to various reasons, and these clots can break off and block blood vessels leading to vital organs like the heart, brain, and kidneys, causing serious problems such as heart attack and stroke (paralysis).
Also Makes It Difficult to Stop Bleeding
Stating that blood thinners should not be used without medical supervision, Prof. Dr. Güner Ulak continued:
“Blood thinners are used in the treatment of diseases that cause clot formation in the body, such as heart attack, stroke, peripheral artery disease, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, retinal artery occlusion, and permanent catheter occlusion. Since these drugs disrupt the coagulation system through various mechanisms, their most serious side effect is bleeding. Because they reduce the blood's ability to clot, they facilitate bleeding or make it difficult to stop bleeding.”
Can Cause Osteoporosis
Prof. Dr. Güner Ulak also explained that anticoagulant (blood-thinning) drugs are medications that reduce the effect of coagulation factors, preventing new clot formation and the growth of existing clots. He added that heparin, a natural anticoagulant, is used once or twice a day via subcutaneous injection, and its most important side effect is bleeding.
Prof. Dr. Güner Ulak stated that this risk can be reduced by careful patient selection, meticulous dose control, and close monitoring. He also explained that elderly women and patients with kidney failure are more prone to bleeding, it should be used with caution in patients with allergies as it is animal-derived, it can increase hair loss, and long-term heparin treatment can cause osteoporosis.
Should Not Be Used During Pregnancy
Prof. Dr. Güner Ulak noted that coumarin-group anticoagulants work by disrupting the synthesis of coagulation factors produced in the liver, are used more frequently because they can be taken orally and are cheaper, and stated that they should not be used during pregnancy.
Prof. Dr. Güner Ulak also provided information about orally administered direct factor XA inhibitors, stating that they are used in fixed doses, do not require monitoring, have a rapid onset of action, and short half-lives.
Prof. Dr. Güner Ulak also provided information about blood thinners used intravenously or into tissue, adding that their effect starts quickly and ends rapidly.
Prof. Dr. Güner Ulak stated that clot dissolvers should only be used if there is a life-threatening situation, as they can cause spontaneous bleeding in the body. He also noted that acetylsalicylic acids (Aspirin, Ecopirin) are pain relievers, and their most important side effect is observed in the digestive system.