A Clearinghouse for Information about Blood Clots (DVT/)PE) and Clotting Disorders (thrombophilia) provided as a public service by the University of North Carolina Blood Research Center

Category: Blood thinners (anticoagulants)

  • Plant Estrogens (Phytoestrogens)

    Phytoestrogens (plant estrogen preparations) are sometimes used in the attempt to improve perimenopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness or mood swings.  They are plant-derived estrogens, chemically similar (even though distincly different) to human and animal estrogens

  • Blood or Organ Donation: Being on Blood Thinners or Having a Thrombophilia

     “I am on warfarin (Coumadin®).  Can I donate blood?”  No.  A person on a blood thinner (anticoagulant), like warfarin, will not be accepted as a blood donor

  • Arixtra (Fondaparinux), Generic

    “Is generic Arixtra as safe and effective as brand Arixtra?” a patient asks.  Answer: Yes. Generic fondaparinux made by Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd. was approved by the FDA on July 11, 2011

  • Nattokinase

    Nattokinase is a soybean food content, produced by the bacterium Bacillus subtilis (natto) during fermentation of soybeans. It is a 275 amino acid peptide. It is also called “Subtilisin NAT” [ref 1]. It is claimed to have clot-dissolving abilities, similar to plasmin.

  • Rivaroxaban (Xarelto): Advisory Board to the FDA Recommends Approval for Atrial Fibrillation

    The external advisory board to the FDA recommended today (Sept 8th, 2011) to approve Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) for the stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation.  More details about the vote can be found here.  Today’s recommendation is contrary to the one given by an internal FDA review committee which had recommended 2 days ago to NOT approve the…

  • Rivaroxaban (Xarelto): FDA Advisory Board Recommends Against Approval for Atrial Fibrillation

    Surprise to many people today:  An FDA staff report released today (Sept 6th, 2011) states that FDA reviewers recommend against the approval of rivaroxaban (Xarelto) for the atrial fibrillation indication.  A detailed discussion with reasons for the recommendation can be found here.  The main reason: It has not been shown that rivaroxaban is as effective as…

  • Minor Cuts and Nosebleeds on Anticoagulants

    When a patient on warfarin bleeds more than usual it is, of course, important to make sure that the INR is not supra-therapeutic.  And, if the INR is too high, warfarin therapy needs to be adjusted and other treatment (vitamin K, etc) may have to be employed depending on the degree of INR elevation and…

  • Minor Cuts and Bleeding on Blood Thinners

    When a patient on warfarin bleeds more than usual it is important to make sure that the INR is not above the desired (therapeutic) range.  If the INR is too high, i.e. the blood is too thin, warfarin may have to be interrupted; if it is very high vitamin K sometimes has to be given…