Prescription Blood Thinners: Possible Problems

If the blood becomes too thick, or platelets become too sticky, oxygen and other nutrients can't reach the cellular level. When the blood changes from a liquid to a solid blood clots are the result. Diseases can't flourish in an oxygen-rich cellular atmosphere. If blood is deficient in water, the outer hemoglobin ring on the red blood cell can't efficiently pick up oxygen for delivery to the cells. If sufficient water isn't available, blood becomes sticky. Nothing replaces water in these respects - not coffee, alcohol or electrolyte drinks.

Prescription drugs that contain coumadin (warfarin), Ticlopidine, Heparin and t-PA are classified as anticoagulants. Aspirin is also widely prescribed for thinning the blood.

Coumarin, the most widely prescribed of the anticoagulants, was originally isolated from sweet clover. Warfarin is the generic name for Coumarin. Warfarin is used as a rat poison. Warfarin causes hemorrhaging and the rat bleeds to death internally. Needless to say, Coumarin can be dangerous if taken outside of the parameters set by the attending physician. There are also many contraindications with foods, vitamins, oils and herbals in connection with Coumarin.

Prescription Ticlopidine (Ticlid) can be used as an alternative for those intolerant to aspirin. Heparin and t-PA are generally only used in emergency situations.

Madison Avenue fails to tell us in the ads that if aspirin is taken to thin the blood, it's necessary to limit or eliminate vitamin K foods from the diet in order for aspirin to be effective. Vitamin K also counteracts the anticoagulation mechanism of Coumarin and is contraindicated for people on anticoagulant therapies. Taking aspirin or any other over the counter NSAID such as Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, Anaprox, Orudis, Oruvail, etc. without your physician's supervision, if on anticoagulant therapy, can cause serious hemorrhaging and excessive bleeding. If the patient is on anticoagulant therapy, it's necessary to check with their physician for complete information about contraindications concerning anticoagulant therapy.