I had failed to touch upon the important issue of pregnancy in patients who are on blood thinning medications. Hence this footnote...
Patients who are on blood thinning agents should plan pregnancy. They should consult their doctor before they get pregnant so that their treatment can be altered to ensure that there is least risk to themselves and the baby. The anti-coagulation should not be completely stopped but the dose may be altered or the drug changed to a safer alternative.Warfarin (oral agent) at higher doses can cause malformations/deformities in the unborn baby and should be stopped and changed over to an alternative blood thinning agent (injectable) before the patient gets pregnant.
Patients who are on warfarin are troubled by the need for regular monitoring of INR and dose alterations. This situation however is likely to change in the future as newer agents are already in clinical use in the west that can be taken orally and do not need blood tests or dose alterations. These drugs however are currently beyond the reach of the average patient in India and much of the developing world.
Patients who are on blood thinning agents should plan pregnancy. They should consult their doctor before they get pregnant so that their treatment can be altered to ensure that there is least risk to themselves and the baby. The anti-coagulation should not be completely stopped but the dose may be altered or the drug changed to a safer alternative.Warfarin (oral agent) at higher doses can cause malformations/deformities in the unborn baby and should be stopped and changed over to an alternative blood thinning agent (injectable) before the patient gets pregnant.
Patients who are on warfarin are troubled by the need for regular monitoring of INR and dose alterations. This situation however is likely to change in the future as newer agents are already in clinical use in the west that can be taken orally and do not need blood tests or dose alterations. These drugs however are currently beyond the reach of the average patient in India and much of the developing world.
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