Your Guide to Using Them Safely
Blood Thinner Pills: Your Guide to Using Them Safely is an
easy-to-read booklet that educates people about blood thinners. It offers basic
information about the medication, including reasons why a clinician might
prescribe it. It also includes tips on diet, medicines and foods to avoid,
important precautions for some daily activities, and when to seek help.
Select to download print version PDF File (360 KB),
PDF Help.
This guide is also available in Spanish.
Contents
About Your Blood Thinner
How to Take
Your Blood Thinner
Check Your Medicine
Using Other Medicines
Possible Side
Effects
Stay Safe While Taking Your Blood
Thinner
Food and Your Blood Thinner
Talk to Your Other Doctors
Blood
Tests
Common Medical Conditions
About Your Blood Thinner
Your doctor has prescribed a medicine called a blood thinner to prevent blood
clots. Blood clots can put you at risk for heart attack, stroke, and other
serious medical problems. A blood thinner is a kind of drug called an
anticoagulant (
an te-ko-AG-u-lent). "Anti" means against and
"coagulant" means to thicken into a gel or solid.
Blood thinner drugs work well when they are used correctly. To help you learn
about your medicine, your doctor has given you this booklet to read. Depending
on where you receive care, you may be seen by a doctor, nurse, physician's
assistant, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, or other health care professional.
The term "doctor" is used in this booklet to refer to the person who helps you
manage your blood thinner medicine.
You and your doctor will work together as a team to make sure that taking
your blood thinner does not stop you from living well and safely. The
information in this booklet will help you understand why you are taking a blood
thinner and how to keep yourself healthy. Please take time to read all of the
information in this booklet.
