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)

  • Apixaban (Eliquis) News – Plus Update On The Big Four New Oral Anticoagulants

    There is a lot of appropriate interest and excitement today about one of the four new oral anticoagulants in development – Apixaban (Eliquis). Data from the large ARISTOTLE trial were published today in the NEJM, showing that in patients with atrial fibrillation Apixaban was more effective in preventing stroke and systemic thromboembolism, caused less major bleeding, and resulted…

  • Eliquis (Apixaban) News – Plus Update On The Big Four New Oral Anticoagulants

    There is a lot of appropriate interest and excitement today about one of the four new blood thinners in development – Apixaban (Eliquis). Data from the large atrial fibrillation trial called ARISTOTLE were published today and show that the drug is more effective and safer than warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation [ref 1].  This…

  • Being on Blood Thinners: How Do I Know I am Bleeding?

    Emily Hawes, UNC School of Pharmacy, writes…  Patients on blood thinners are at increased risk for bleeding.  This can be easy to recognize external bleeding (bruising, bleeding from a cut, nosebleeds, etc.) or more occult internal bleeding.  Patients need to know how to recognize abnormal bleeding.  If any of the below signs of abnormal bleeding occur patients need…

  • Tattoos and Blood Thinners

    At times, individuals who are on blood thinners are considering getting a tattoo.  I am not aware of any medical publication assessing the amount of bleeding that were to occur if a patient got a tattoo while on warfarin or other blood thinners.

  • Prescription assistance: when you can’t afford a medication

    Beth Waldron, Program Director of the Clot Connect project, writes…. Approximately 1 in 5 people don’t take a medication a doctor has prescribed because they can’t afford to pay for it [ref 1].  While the cost of some outpatient “blood thinning” therapies (anticoagulants) can be substantial, failure to take a blood thinning medication as prescribed…

  • Lixiana (Edoxaban): New Oral Blood Thinner

    Lixiana® (Edoxaban), the 4th of the big new oral blood thinners in development (the other big 3 being Dabigatran = Pradaxa, Rivaroxaban = Xarelto, and Apixaban = Eliquis), is now commercially available in Japan (July 19th, 2011 press release here). It is available as once daily dosing for prevention of blood clots in the legs…

  • Injection of Blood Thinners under the Skin: Making it Easier – Insuflon Ports

    Having to take shots of a blood thinner injected under the skin (subcutaneously = s.c.) once or twice daily for prolonged periods of time can be bothersome and uncomfortable. Use of a once weekly exchanged s.c. port, called Insuflon, can make it easier for a number of patients.

  • Xarelto (Rivaroxaban) – FDA Approved

    Today the FDA approved the oral anticoagulant Xarelto (rivaroxaban) for DVT prevention in patients undergoing knee or hip replacement surgery.  This is good news