Heart medicines work in different ways to support your heart health. Anticoagulants and antiplatelets help prevent blood clots, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. These medicines are used in the immediate treatment of people having a heart attack, and are often then prescribed in the longer term.
Anticoagulants can help reduce your blood’s ability to clot, preventing clots from forming and stopping existing clots from growing bigger.
As immediate treatment during a heart attack, the healthcare team may give anticoagulant medicines in a drip. The most common of these are heparin, enoxaparin or bivalirudin.
People with additional heart conditions or risk factors may also need to take anticoagulants in the longer term. These include warfarin, or one of the direct oral anticoagulants (or DOACs for short) such as apixaban or rivaroxaban tablets or dabigatran capsules.
Antiplatelets prevent blood clots from forming by keeping blood platelets from sticking together. The most common antiplatelet medicines are aspirin, clopidogrel, prasugrel and ticagrelor, which are all taken orally. Your doctor might prescribe more than one type of antiplatelet medicine.
Antiplatelet medicines are used in the immediate treatment of a heart attack, and are then often prescribed in the longer term to reduce the risk of future heart events.
When you are prescribed anticoagulants and antiplatelets, make sure you follow the guidance of your doctor or pharmacist. These medicines can interact with certain foods and other medicines, so make sure you tell them if you are taking any supplements or other over-the-counter medicines.
If you are prescribed an anticoagulant, regular blood tests may be necessary to check how well your blood is clotting or if you are at risk of bleeding. It is important to let other healthcare professionals, such as dentists, know if you are taking these medicines, especially prior to any planned surgery or procedures.
Always take the dose of medicine as prescribed and don’t stop taking it without speaking to your doctor or pharmacist. This is important, even if you feel well. If you miss a dose of your medicine, take your next usual dose at the normal time. Don’t double your dose, unless told otherwise by your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have more questions about your medicines or experience any side effects, speak with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. Contact Medicines Line on 1300 MEDICINE (1300 633 424) for information on medicines, including the best ways to take and store them and any possible side effects.
Last updated28 May 2024