Anticoagulants are medicines that increase the time it takes for blood to clot. They are commonly called blood thinners.
There are several different types of anticoagulant. Each type works at a different level on the blood coagulation pathway. Some can be given by mouth; others can only be given by injection.

Drug classes:

• coumarins and indandiones
• factor Xa inhibitors
• heparins
• thrombin inhibitors