What are anticoagulants?

Anticoagulants are  drugs that prevent blood from clotting. They belong to the group of anticoagulants. In addition to anticoagulants, anticoagulants also include platelet function inhibitors, which prevent the platelets from clumping together.

Anticoagulants for coagulation disorders

The blood has the task of supplying our body with nutrients and oxygen. In order for it to be able to reach even the smallest blood vessels, the blood must be fluid and free of clots. Certain disturbances, such as sitting on an airplane for a long time, can cause the blood to lose its optimal flow properties and small blood clots can form. Anticoagulants are used to prevent such coagulation disorders. 

Effect of anticoagulants

The blood consists of two parts, a solid, cellular part and a liquid part, the blood plasma. The blood plasma also serves, among other things, as a means of transport for the blood platelets. The coagulation of the blood can be caused by clumping of the blood platelets as well as clumping of the plasma. The body can control these processes with its own coagulation system.

Blood plasma and platelets have different clotting factors. The clotting factors consist of proteins that can be activated as required and then cause blood to clot. For example, blood plasma contains fibrin – a protein with glue-like properties. This protein can knit together like a net, causing a blood clot. Anticoagulants inhibit the formation of fibrin and thus prevent blood from clotting.

Different types of anticoagulants

Depending on the indication, anticoagulants can be used in a targeted manner. The most common active ingredients in anticoagulant therapy are:

• Heparin  is an endogenous substance that must be injected in the case of coagulation disorders.
• Vitamin K antagonists  are  medications  in tablet form that   inhibit the effects of vitamin K and thus blood clotting.
• Fondaparinux  is a synthetically produced active ingredient with selective anticoagulant properties that has to be injected.
• Hirudin  is an active ingredient obtained from leeches, which can also be produced by genetic engineering and also has to be injected.
• Rivaroxaban  is an active ingredient in tablet form that is used to prevent blood clotting after knee and hip replacement surgery.
• Apixaban  is an active ingredient that came onto the market in 2011 and is very similar to rivaroxaban in terms of its effect and dosage form.
• Dabigatran etexilate  is an active ingredient in capsule form that is used to prevent blood clotting after knee and hip replacement surgery.