Types of medicine
What Is an Anticoagulant? Blood Thinners
Anticoagulant · say it: an-tee-koh-AG-yoo-luntAlso written: blood thinner, anticoagulants, anticoagulation
Short answer
An anticoagulant is a medicine that slows blood clotting, used to prevent or treat harmful clots. It raises the risk of bleeding.
What it means
An anticoagulant, often called a blood thinner, is a medicine that makes blood take longer to clot. It is used to prevent clots in conditions such as atrial fibrillation, or to treat clots such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Examples include warfarin, heparin and newer tablet medicines.
Because they slow clotting, anticoagulant labels warn about bleeding. They also warn that stopping early can raise the chance of a clot, and that many other medicines and some supplements can change their effect. Some, like warfarin, need regular INR blood tests. Before surgery, dental work or spinal procedures, the team needs to know you take one.
Anticoagulants are different from antiplatelet medicines such as aspirin and clopidogrel. Both reduce clotting, but they work on different parts of the clotting process. Neither actually makes the blood thinner in a literal sense.
Where you may see it
- Labels for warfarin and newer anticoagulants
- Over-the-counter pain relief labels: 'Ask a doctor if you are taking a blood thinner'
- INR result reports and anticoagulation clinic letters
- Pre-surgery checklists
📄 How it looks on a report
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before use if you are taking a prescription drug for anticoagulation (thinning the blood).
🙅 What it does not mean
- It does not literally make your blood thinner or watery. It slows clotting.
- It does not mean you will bleed. It means bleeding risk is higher and should be watched.
- Do not stop it on your own before a procedure; your team will tell you if and when to pause it.
🎯 Check yourself
Which of these is the right meaning of “Anticoagulant”?
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Anticoagulant”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Amoxicillin
a penicillin-class antibacterial medicine that works against bacteria
- Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium
A penicillin-class antibacterial combined with a beta-lactamase inhibitor, as the label describes it
- Apixaban
A factor Xa inhibitor, a blood thinner medicine (anticoagulant)
- Aspirin
a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and a platelet aggregation inhibitor
- Azithromycin
a macrolide antibacterial (antibiotic) medicine
- Cephalexin
a cephalosporin antibacterial medicine (an antibiotic that treats bacterial infections)
- Citalopram
a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), a type of antidepressant medicine
- Clopidogrel
A platelet inhibitor of the P2Y12 type (a thienopyridine). It is a blood thinner that keeps platelets from sticking together.
- Diclofenac Sodium
A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). The FDA class is not listed on the label.
- Doxycycline
a tetracycline-class antibacterial medicine (an antibiotic)
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Anticoagulant” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
- NCI Dictionary definition ↗
US National Cancer Institute: “anticoagulant”
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General information about a medical word, not advice about your own results. Ask the clinician who ordered the test what it means for you.