Blood Thinner’s Effectiveness May be Affected by Heart Drugs
Wednesday, March 11th, 2009Katie Kelley asked:
Copyright (c) 2008 Katie Kelley
A study released in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology recently found that calcium channel blocker drugs that are often given as a method of treatment for heart conditions, may reduce the effects of blood thinning drugs such as Plavix and other similar blood thinners.
What is a Blood Thinner?
The Texas Heart Institute explains that a blood thinner is a prescription drug that is used to decrease the following:
* heart attack
* stroke
* blockages in arteries
* clumps of blood (blood clots) that are forming, growing
Blood thinners are described as anticoagulants, which, despite that they are called blood thinners, actually do not thin the blood, but rather “decrease the blood?s ability to clot and decreased clotting keeps fewer harmful blood clots from forming and from blocking blood vessels,” according to the Texas Heart Institute?s Heart Information Center.
Candidates for blood thinners are usually individuals who have had the following conditions:
* heart valve replacement
* atrial fibrillation
* phlebitis
* congestive heart failure
* obesity
There is a lengthy list of potential harmful interactions that can threaten an individual?s health while taking blood thinners. The following are a list of medications that should be discussed prior to consuming a blood thinner or prior to beginning a blood thinner prescription.
* acetaminophens
* aspirin
* antacids
* corticosteroids
* antidepressants
* antihistamines
* sleeping pills
* ibuprofen
* naproxen
* ketoprofen
* antiarrhythmics
* calcium and vitamin K supplements
* certain antifungal medicines
* overactive thyroid medicines
* convulsion medicines
* certain antibiotics
While calcium and additional vitamin K supplements have been know to interact mildly with blood thinners, according to the study from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the combination can be deadly inactivating the “enzyme essential for the activity” of a blood thinner.
During the study, Plavix, a type of blood thinner, was used during testing, but there are an array of blood thinners available on the market today, some of which include the following, according to WebMD:
* Heparin
* Lovenox
* Fragmin
* Plavix
* Coumadin
Of these types of blood thinners, is the rather controversial Heparin, also known as heparin sodium, which was released in 1972 from Baxter Healthcare Corporation.
Americans consuming the drug began to report allergic reactions in 2007; reactions allegedly caused by the drug. It was later discovered that a tainted batch of Heparin had been shipped to the United States by a Chinese manufacturing company, which became the center of an international investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
While the injectable drug was being used in thousands of surgical procedures, including dialysis and heart surgery, patients were becoming sick with the following reactions:
* vomiting
* excessive sweating
* rapidly falling blood pressure
* nausea
* difficulty breathing
* shock
* death
Blood Thinner Side Effects
It is imperative that patients, as well as family and friends of a Baxter Heparin patient, contact a medical professional immediately upon signs and symptoms of the tainted Baxter Heparin.
Individuals who consumed Heparin prior to sales being halted and those who were affected negatively by the tainted batch of the drug should consider developing litigation to retrieve monetary compensation that may assist in paying for medical bills associated with Heparin side effects. It may be necessary to speak with an experienced pharmaceutical lawyer who can provide assistance on a potential Baxter Heparin class action lawsuit.
Martha
Copyright (c) 2008 Katie Kelley
A study released in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology recently found that calcium channel blocker drugs that are often given as a method of treatment for heart conditions, may reduce the effects of blood thinning drugs such as Plavix and other similar blood thinners.
What is a Blood Thinner?
The Texas Heart Institute explains that a blood thinner is a prescription drug that is used to decrease the following:
* heart attack
* stroke
* blockages in arteries
* clumps of blood (blood clots) that are forming, growing
Blood thinners are described as anticoagulants, which, despite that they are called blood thinners, actually do not thin the blood, but rather “decrease the blood?s ability to clot and decreased clotting keeps fewer harmful blood clots from forming and from blocking blood vessels,” according to the Texas Heart Institute?s Heart Information Center.
Candidates for blood thinners are usually individuals who have had the following conditions:
* heart valve replacement
* atrial fibrillation
* phlebitis
* congestive heart failure
* obesity
There is a lengthy list of potential harmful interactions that can threaten an individual?s health while taking blood thinners. The following are a list of medications that should be discussed prior to consuming a blood thinner or prior to beginning a blood thinner prescription.
* acetaminophens
* aspirin
* antacids
* corticosteroids
* antidepressants
* antihistamines
* sleeping pills
* ibuprofen
* naproxen
* ketoprofen
* antiarrhythmics
* calcium and vitamin K supplements
* certain antifungal medicines
* overactive thyroid medicines
* convulsion medicines
* certain antibiotics
While calcium and additional vitamin K supplements have been know to interact mildly with blood thinners, according to the study from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the combination can be deadly inactivating the “enzyme essential for the activity” of a blood thinner.
During the study, Plavix, a type of blood thinner, was used during testing, but there are an array of blood thinners available on the market today, some of which include the following, according to WebMD:
* Heparin
* Lovenox
* Fragmin
* Plavix
* Coumadin
Of these types of blood thinners, is the rather controversial Heparin, also known as heparin sodium, which was released in 1972 from Baxter Healthcare Corporation.
Americans consuming the drug began to report allergic reactions in 2007; reactions allegedly caused by the drug. It was later discovered that a tainted batch of Heparin had been shipped to the United States by a Chinese manufacturing company, which became the center of an international investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
While the injectable drug was being used in thousands of surgical procedures, including dialysis and heart surgery, patients were becoming sick with the following reactions:
* vomiting
* excessive sweating
* rapidly falling blood pressure
* nausea
* difficulty breathing
* shock
* death
Blood Thinner Side Effects
It is imperative that patients, as well as family and friends of a Baxter Heparin patient, contact a medical professional immediately upon signs and symptoms of the tainted Baxter Heparin.
Individuals who consumed Heparin prior to sales being halted and those who were affected negatively by the tainted batch of the drug should consider developing litigation to retrieve monetary compensation that may assist in paying for medical bills associated with Heparin side effects. It may be necessary to speak with an experienced pharmaceutical lawyer who can provide assistance on a potential Baxter Heparin class action lawsuit.
Martha
