The side effects of blood thinners include heavy periods, bloody or discolored urine or feces, nosebleeds, bleeding gums and prolonged bleeding from a cut.
The safest blood thinning medications are the newer blood thinners which are Pradaxa (dabigatran), Xarelto (rivaroxaban), Eliquis (apixaban), and most recently Savaysa (edoxaban) — which work by preventing pooled blood in the heart from clotting.
And unlike warfarin, the newer drugs are safer and easier for people to use.
The most common blood thinner is Warfarin and also the following.
rivaroxaban (Xarelto)
dabigatran (Pradaxa)
apixaban (Eliquis)
edoxaban (Lixiana)
There are two main types of blood thinners.
Anticoagulants such as heparin or warfarin (also called Coumadin) slow down your body's process of making clots.
Antiplatelet drugs, such as aspirin, prevent blood cells called platelets from clumping together to form a clot.
The major side effects of taking Warfarin include.
Severe bleeding, including heavier than normal menstrual bleeding.
Red or brown urine.
Black or bloody stool.
Severe headache or stomach pain.
Joint pain, discomfort or swelling, especially after an injury.
Vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds.
Coughing up blood.
Foods that should be avoided when taking Warfarin include Kale, Spinach, Brussels sprouts, Parsley, Collard greens, Mustard greens, Endive and Red cabbage.
You can eat bananas while taking Warfarin.
However avoid green bananas but ripe bananas are okay to eat while on Warfarin and poses not health risks.
You should avoid grapefruit and other citrus fruits while taking Warfarin and avoid or limit the intake of the following foods when taking Warfarin.
Kale.
Spinach.
Brussels sprouts.
Parsley.
Collard greens.
Mustard greens.
Endive.
Red cabbage.
Warfarin prevents blood from clotting so it may take longer than usual for you to stop bleeding if you are cut or injured.
Warfarin is used to treat people who have had a previous blood clot, such as: a blood clot in the leg (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT) a blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism)
Some side effects of taking Warfarin include.
Severe bleeding, including heavier than normal menstrual bleeding.
Red or brown urine.
Black or bloody stool.
Severe headache or stomach pain.
Joint pain, discomfort or swelling, especially after an injury.
Vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds.
Coughing up blood.