What is an anticoagulant?

What is an anticoagulant?

Anticoagulants are drugs that prevent harmful blood clots forming in your blood vessels. They do this by slowing down the clotting process. The medication you will be on will be specified in your yellow book.
Are there any side effects?

If you take your anticoagulant as recommended by the Anticoagulant Clinic, it is unlikely that you will have any problems.

However, you should look out for signs of bruising or bleeding and report them to the Clinic or your family doctor as soon as possible.

Women experiencing unusually heavy periods especially with the passage of clots should also report these symptoms.

Rare minor side effects may include loss of appetite, nausea, a rash or hair loss.
How long will I need to take the anticoagulants for?

The length of time will depend on the condition requiring treatment with anticoagulant. Your doctor would usually advise on the duration at the start of your treatment. Some patients require treatment for a few months; others will need this indefinitely.
When should I take the anticoagulant?

You should take the anticoagulant once a day, at roughly the same time. We recommend that it be taken between 6pm and 8pm.

At the Clinic, we will manage your anticoagulant treatment and tell you what dose you should be taking. We will also tell you when to have a blood test and when it is time to stop taking anticoagulants, if appropriate.
What dose of anticoagulant should I take?

The amount of anticoagulant needed varies from patient to patient. Your dose will depend on the results of a regular blood test that measures how long it takes your blood to clot.

The result is given as the International Normalised Ratio (INR). As a rough guide, if your blood takes twice as long to clot as normal, your INR will be 2. If it takes three times longer, your INR will be 3, and so on. Your doctor will set the target INR that is right for you.

After every blood test, you will be advised of the dose of anticoagulant required to maintain your INR within a set range. Occasionally, your dose may need alteration to maintain your INR in the desired range.
Where can I have my INR blood test?

You can have blood taken at:

* The Royal Berkshire Hospital Pathology department - at any time between 8.30am and 4pm on weekdays.
* Newbury District Hospital Pathology department - between 8.30am and 10am on weekdays.
* At your doctor's surgery - you will need to book an appointment with the nurse.

All these places will send your blood to the Clinic for testing. It is

essential that you always send your yellow book with the sample.
How often will I need to have an INR blood test?

You will need to have weekly INR tests when you begin taking anticoagulants. As your INR becomes more stable, blood tests will become less frequent, perhaps only once every few months.

It is very important that you have regular INR tests to check the dose of anticoagulant you need. If you are unable to have a test on the date advised, please let the Clinic know so that another date can be arranged as soon as possible.
How will I be told the results of my INR blood test?

The new dosage advice will be printed in your yellow book and posted to you by first class post to arrive the day after your blood test. However, if we consider you require an urgent change to your anticoagulant dose we will telephone you before 6pm on the day you had your blood test to let you know.

For this reason it is very important that the Clinic has a reliable telephone number where we can contact you. If you do not have a telephone, please give us the telephone number of a relative or neighbour who will be certain to pass on any urgent message from us at the Clinic. Please note that we will not leave messages on answer-phones unless they identify you by your full name.
Can I take other medicines whilst I am on anticoagulants?

Seek advice from the pharmacist when buying over the counter medicines and tell them that you are on anticoagulants. Also point out to any doctor who is prescribing or making a change to your medication that you are taking anticoagulants.

If you have been prescribed any new medications, you should inform the Clinic. New medications frequently upset the balance of your anticoagulation and you may be advised to have an INR test earlier. Medicines containing aspirin should only be taken if prescribed by your doctor. Ibuprofen and similar preparations should also be avoided. You can take paracetamol instead. You should avoid vitamin supplements that contain vitamin K.
Can what I eat or drink affect my anticoagulants?

You should eat a well balanced diet and avoid eating excessive amounts of foods rich in vitamin K. These include spinach, cabbage and other green leafy vegetables. Do not go on crash diets.

You should not consume more than moderate amounts of alcohol (2 units per day). Avoid binge drinking as it interferes with your anticoagulant treatment. A small amount every day is better than a large amount once a week.

You should also avoid cranberry juice as this can also affect anticoagulants.
What happens if I need an operation or dental treatment?

You should tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking anticoagulants well in

advance. Contact the Anticoagulant Clinic if you need advice. You may need to stop anticoagulants for a few days prior to an operation to reduce the risk of bleeding.
What should I do if I am injured whilst on anticoagulants?

In the event of a minor injury, apply constant pressure to the site for 5-10 minutes using a clean dry dressing. If your arm or leg is affected, raise it up to help stop the bleeding. If you are unable to stop the bleeding or suffer a more major injury, you should seek medical help at once.
What should I do if I think I may be pregnant?

Anticoagulants taken during the early weeks of pregnancy may damage the unborn baby. Therefore you should not plan to become pregnant without consulting your doctor.

If you think you may be pregnant while taking anticoagulants contact your doctor at once for advice.
What should I do if I plan to go away on holiday?

Advise us in the Clinic if you are going to be away in advance of your blood test. We can then attempt to arrange your next test so that it does not conflict with your holiday.