Anticoagulants (Blood Thinners)

Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) have a high risk of developing blood clots in the heart that could cause a stroke. Most patients with AF should be prescribed long-term oral anticoagulants (blood thinners). These blood thinners can be used to prevent, treat, and reduce the recurrence of clots.

Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs)

apixaban (Eliquis); rivaroxaban (Xarelto); dabigatran (Pradaxa); edoxaban (Savaysa)

DOACs achieve effective anticoagulation within hours. These medications require no routine testing to monitor your blood levels or dietary restrictions.

Vitamin K Antagonist (VKA)

warfarin (Coumadin)

Effective anticoagulation with a VKA can take 2-3 days and requires a routine lab test called an INR (international normalized ratio) to monitor your blood levels.

Patients on Coumadin must follow a list of dietary restrictions and exercise caution with alcohol consumption in order to keep their INR levels within a safe range. Coumadin also has the potential to interact with multiple different medications, so make sure to communicate with your doctor if any changes are made to your diet or medication list.