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Anticoagulants, often called blood thinners, can play
an important role in preventing ischemic stroke and its
recurrence. They are drugs used to prevent clot formation
or to prevent a clot that has formed from enlarging. They
cannot, however, dissolve clots that already have formed.
Anticoagulant drugs fall into three categories: inhibitors
of clotting factor synthesis, inhibitors of thrombin,
and antiplatelet drugs. They are available only with
a physician's prescription and come in tablet and injectable
forms.
Inhibitors of Clotting
Factor Synthesis
These anticoagulants inhibit the production of certain
clotting factors in the liver. One example is warfarin
(Coumadin® and others).
Thrombin Inhibitors
Thrombin inhibitors block the activity of thrombin,
an enzyme produced by the body that is involved in clotting.
They include heparin and lepirudin (Refludan®).
Antiplatelets
Platelets are blood cells that go into action when the
body is injured to prevent bleeding. They can be thought
of as materials like bricks or blocks that stack up
(aggregate) to form a clot. Antiplatelets interfere
with the cells’ ability to stick together to secure
the clot.
Types of antiplatelets used for stroke prevention include:
- Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA)
- Clopidogrel (Plavix®)
- Eptifibatide (Integrilin®)
- Dipyridamole (Aggrenox®, Persantine® and
others)
- Ticlopidine (Ticlid®)
- Tirofiban (Aggrastat®)
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Prevention
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