Anticoagulant drugs are used to treat clotting disorders and thrombolytic disease. Examples are pulmonary emboli, myocardial infarction, and deep vein thrombosis.
An easy way to remember heparin sodium, enoxaparin sodium, and dalteparin sodium is that they have -parin in the name.
It is essential to know the side effects of anticoagulant drugs. If anticoagulant thins the blood, then you can expect bleeding and bruising to occur.
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Stomatitis
- Hematuria
- Alopecia
- Pruritis
Do not forget to check blood studies every three months. Blood studies include hematocrit and occult blood in stool.
It is essential to monitor PTT for heparin. The therapeutic levels are 1.5 – 2x the control. Monitor platelet count, bleeding, and signs of infection.
