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Medical Advocates of Virginia

Care Management and Medical Advocacy Services
for Adults and Seniors

"We will help you navigate the medical system in any way we can!"

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Commonly Asked Questions

Would you like to read more about aspects of our services? This is the place! We've put together this reference area based on the questions we are often asked. Please browse our main articles below and archived articles below right.


Do you take oral blood thinners?

Blood thinning drugs, also known as anti-coagulants, are used to prevent blood clots. You may know the oral version of the drug under the names of Coumadin or warfarin. The blood is not actually made “thinner” using these drugs; it simply takes longer to form a clot by changing the amounts of clotting factors present in the blood. Blood clots can be life threatening if one lodges in a major vessel. These drugs are prescribed for a variety of conditions. Blood thinners are often used after major surgery like joint replacement. This is generally a short term use of the drug, when the risk for developing a clot is reduced the drug is discontinued. These drugs are also used for long term maintenance for some patients with heart conditions, heart valve replacements and stroke risks.

Blood thinners also require careful attention to diet and drug interactions. Foods high in Vitamin K like broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts can change the way the medicine works. Aspirin, or any drug that contains aspirin, should be generally avoided. Aspirin acts as a blood thinner so you could get too much “thinning effect” if you combine aspirin and a blood thinner. If you observe a change in stool color, contact your physician right away. Dark stool could be a sign of bleeding. You can have internal bleeding without any other symptoms that might make you suspicious. Always read your label, observe the warnings and ask your doctor if you are not clear about the directions.

If you take blood thinners, you know how vigilant the doctors must be to make sure you are getting the desired effect. Doctors aim for a specific amount of the drug to be present in your body…neither too much, nor too little. Too much increases your risks of excessive bleeding, too little increases your risk of a clot. This precision requires frequent blood tests and frequent adjustments in your dose to maintain the therapeutic amount in your body. It’s important to follow your doctor’s directions for testing and dosage adjustments. Some folks experience wide variability in the concentration of the drug in spite of frequent testing and adjusting; it’s just the way their bodies work.

Drug companies are searching for more “user friendly” drugs to reduce the risks of clots. Drugs that would be more predictable and require less frequent testing and monitoring would be welcomed by doctors and patients. The FDA is reviewing the applications of several drug makers seeking approval of their new drugs. It would be expected that any new drug introduced would be more expensive than the present drug in use. They could, however, provide a significant benefit for a select group of patients. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), problems with warfarin are a frequent reason for emergency room visits by older adults…that reflects how hard it can be to get the precise amount of the drug in your body correct. New drugs could prevent some of these visits. These drugs are on the horizon. If/when new drugs are approved, a track record of use and results will be the best way to judge if it might be a drug for your doctor to consider for you. The risks and benefits must always be weighed.