Finding Your Way: What You Need to Know About Blood Thinner Pills

It’s easy to take medicines for granted. When we’re sick, we may take a drug a few times a day to relieve our symptoms. Then, when we’re feeling better, we go back to our daily routine.

But some medicines, such as blood thinner pills, require lifestyle changes. You need to take them at the same time each day, for example, and you need to avoid injuries. These changes are important for you to stay safe and healthy.

Each year, nearly 2 million Americans start taking a blood thinner pill to prevent blood clots from forming in their bloodstream. Blood clots can lead to strokes, heart attacks or other serious health conditions.

If your doctor thinks you are at risk for a blood clot because you can’t move around easily or you’ve had recent surgery or an injury, he may put you on a blood thinner.

How blood thinners work

When taken correctly, blood thinners, also called anticoagulants, help your blood flow more easily to lower your risk of developing dangerous blood clots.

But blood thinners also increase your chance of bleeding. When taking a blood thinner, you need to be careful when going about your daily routine. For example, you should take extra care to avoid getting cuts from sharp instruments, such as knives, tools or other sharp objects. You must also carefully follow your doctor’s instructions about your diet and how much of and how often to take your blood thinner.

A consumer guide

Like learning to drive a car, taking blood thinners will require you to learn and practice several important steps until they become habits. To help patients remember these steps, my agency, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, recently made a video and produced a consumer guide. These tools will help you get the best results from your blood thinner.

The video describes the “BEST” way for you to remember important tips about blood thinners. BEST stands for:

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