Diets & Weight Loss

Anticoagulant

Anything which prevents blood clot formation, such as aspirin

Question: What is the difference between an Anticoagulant and an Anti-platelet Agent medication? My grandad recently had a stroke and I am trying to research all I can on the condition. In researching the possible medications given, I have come across the terms Anticoagulant and Anti-platelet Agents, but their definitions seem to be very similar. Are they simply different names for the same thing or do they have differences? I would be grateful for any help. Thank you.

Answer: You're right. Anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs are both meant to do the same job, but by a different mechanism. Anticoagulant drugs typically target proteins in our blood that work together to convert fibrinogen into fibrin (a key ingredient in blood clots). For example, heparin and similar drugs help increase the action of anti-thrombin III, which is a blood chemical that naturally inactivates many of the proteins that I mentioned earlier. Other anticoagulants include coumarin, and streptokinase. Antiplatelet drugs work by targeting platelets directly. These drugs usually work by binding to, and blocking receptors on the surface of platelets. Normally, these sites are activated by mediators released by damaged tissues, and the platelets respond by sending out lots of chemicals that result in venospasm, inflammation, and blood clotting. So antiplatelet drugs prevent this from occurring. Some antiplatelet drugs include clopidogrel (plavix), ticlopidine, abciximab, eptifibatide, tirofiban, and dipyridamole. Aspirin is probably an antiplatelet drug to. It works by inhibiting COX-2 within platelets and preventing them from synthesizing thromboxane A2 which is necessary for the activation of platelets. Aspirin is cheap and safe and should probably be considered a super-drug for people in need of anticoagulation. Hope that helps.

 


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