Antidote for eliquis overdose12/12/2023 ![]() ![]() Doctors take a specimen of blood from a patient, put it in a test tube, remove the cells, and then treat the fluid of the blood with a clotting stimulant, and to see how long it takes for the patient’s blood to clot. The therapeutic range involves a clotting test called INR. Depending upon the type of blood thinner employed and the patient’s health, it may be necessary to obtain certain blood tests at regular intervals to ensure the patient’s clotting rate is still within a safe range.īlood thinners need to be maintained in a therapeutic range. In many cases, the negligence occurs in the practitioner’s failure to monitor the patient for signs and symptoms of an adverse reaction or overdose. In all of these instances, the harm could have been avoided were it not for the practitioner’s failure to meet the standard of care in administering these medications which are well known to be lethal if not dispensed and managed with caution. In other instances, the practitioner may fail to properly inform the patient that certain medications, supplements, or dietary choices may exacerbate the effects of the anticoagulants, thereby leading to an overdose even when the strength and dosage would have otherwise been appropriate. ![]() Even a double dose of blood thinner – most of us have accidentally taken a double dose of medication at some point – can cause severe bleeding. Often, a nurse or doctor, whether in a hurry or not paying enough attention, misreads the label on the medication and gives the patient a higher-strength formulation of the blood thinner than intended, or conversely, gives the patient more of the medication than appropriate. Sometimes, the cause of the overdose is tragically simple to avoid. In the vast majority of overdose cases, human error is the culprit. Why Do People Overdose on Blood Thinners? ![]() But, still too often, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists accidentally prescribe too much of a blood thinner that causes the patient’s death. ![]() Some populations are particularly susceptible to overdose and must be treated with extreme caution and monitored carefully when on anticoagulants these populations include the elderly and infants, as well as patients with certain health conditions or those on certain other medications.īlood thinner overdose is still relatively uncommon. Many blood thinners have very narrow margins of error-even the slightest mistake in strength or dosage can have devastating consequences. While intended to treat or prevent potentially life-threatening health problems, anticoagulants themselves can be very dangerous. Others are used during certain medical procedures or treatments to prevent clotting in the medical equipment tubing, such as during bypass surgery or kidney dialysis. Patients experiencing or at risk of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, atrial fibrillation, or other conditions may be given blood thinners to prevent blood clots that could lead to heart attack or stroke.Īnticlotting drugs are also given to patients who have already had a heart attack or stroke to reduce the risk of further damage or recurrence. Warfarin prevents coagulation by inhibiting Vitamin K epoxide reductase, which is necessary for coagulation. Coagulation is the process by which blood thickens from a liquid to a gel. These blood thinners work by decreasing the ability of the blood to coagulate. Common brand-name prescription anticoagulants include Coumadin, Xarelto, Heparin, Lovenox, Eliquis, Plavix, and Pradaxa. An overdose of a blood thinner is a very serious medical management problem and almost invariably medical malpractice if prescribed in that dosage by a health care professional.Īnticoagulants, commonly referred to as “blood thinners,” are medications used to slow the blood’s natural clotting process. This page is about medical malpractice lawsuits from a blood thinner overdose. ![]()
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