Stage 01 of 05
The Anticoagulant
Understanding the class
Anticoagulants reduce the blood's tendency to form clots. They are not thrombolytics — they do not dissolve existing clots. Instead, they suppress excessive clotting activity, slowing clot growth and preventing new ones while the body's own fibrinolytic system does its work.
Key distinction
Anticoagulants buy time — they hold the clot in place while natural fibrinolysis works. Thrombolytics, used in acute events, actively break clots down. These are different drugs with different risks.