The New Generation of Blood Thinners

By Sandra Stramoski, RDH, MSDH, and Anna Matthews, RDH, MS

While warfarin remains the most widely used oral anticoagulant, it has significant drawbacks. The blood thinner has a narrow therapeutic index; requires frequent, consistent monitoring to prevent over- and under-dosing; has more than 200 drug-drug and drug-food interactions; and its use is restricted during pregnancy due to teratogenic effects. As such, safer alternatives have been developed. New oral anticoagulants can be administered in fixed doses without coagulation monitoring, streamlining care for many patients. These novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have the potential to replace traditional anticoagulants.¹

* References can be found in the original article via the link below.
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