What are anti-platelets medications?

Anti-platelets Medications:

Anti-platelets are a group of medicines that stop blood cells (called platelets) from sticking together and forming a blood clot. In other word they prevent the aggregation of platelets, or prevent platelets from coming together. Whenever there is an injury in your body, platelets are sent to the site of the injury, where they clump together to form a blood clot. This stops the bleeding in your body. If you have a cut or a wound, this is a good thing. But, sometimes, platelets will clump together inside a blood vessel that is injured, swollen (inflamed), or that has plaque build-up (atherosclerosis). When this happens, the platelets can cause a blood clot to form inside the vessel. Platelets can also cause blood clots to form around stents, artificial heart valves, and other devices that are placed inside the heart or blood vessels. Anti-platelet medicines can stop blood clots from forming.

Anti-platelet drugs are given to someone who has had a heart attack, to reduce the chances of them having another. You might also be given anti-platelets if you have had a stent fitted to a narrowed artery, if you’ve had a stroke or if you’ve been diagnosed with peripheral vascular disease. The most common anti-platelet drug used in preventing and further heart attacks is aspirin. Other drugs include clopidogrel, prasugrel ticagrelor. 

Counseling Point for Anti-Platelets:

Aspirin and warfarin are sometimes prescribed together, and this is because one is anti platelet and the other is anticoagulant. Please see the previous anticoagulant article. They work differently, and they also help manage different conditions.

Anti platelets can irritate the lining of the stomach, so there is a risk of gastrointestinal side effects such as indigestion and stomach aches.

You might also develop a gastric (stomach) ulcer and need to start taking proton pump inhibitors  like omeprazole to protect the lining of your stomach. 

In addition, anti-platelet drugs reduce the ability of the blood to clot, it means that you may be more prone to nosebleeds, and bruising or bleeding for longer than usual if you cut or injure yourself.

Remember Any question you may have do not hesitate to ask your health care teams. Your doctor will make recommendations based on the type of problem you have, your health, and other factors. Your body is the Temple of God, please take good care of it.

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