Blood thinner is used to reduce the opportunity of getting blood clots. If you have an unusual heart rhythm, your doctor has most likely already recommended one for you. Whenever you are integrating medications, the interaction needs to be considered and resolved. For example, taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDS) with a blood thinner could be risky. There are two types of blood thinners – an antiplatelet (aspirin) that will stop platelets from becoming an embolism; and anticoagulants (warfarin) decrease the actual formation of a blood clot.
Ibuprofen is the generic name. Brand names for the drug include Advil, IBU, Motrin, Caldolor, EmuProfen, etc.
Is Ibuprofen a Blood Thinner?
Advil, a brand of Ibuprofen, falls into the category of NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). And it has been proven to thin blood by hindering the way that platelets work and interrupts blood clots. Ibuprofen is likewise an anti-coagulant, which works as great as other blood thinner that doctors recommend.
Besides using it as a blood thinner, lots of medical professionals prescribe this medication to eliminate inflammation, reduce or remove pain, and reduce fevers. You can find this drug in caplets, tablets and gel caplets.
Is Advil a Blood Thinner Like Aspirin?
Does Ibuprofen thin your blood like Aspirin? You may be wondering why some people take aspirin regularly. Another big “side effect” of aspirin can in fact be an advantage for many people. Aspirin weakens platelets, the cells responsible for blood clots. While clotting helps stop bleeding when you cut yourself, clots likewise play a huge function in causing strokes and cardiovascular disease when capillary are currently partially obstructed by cholesterol. Less platelets means smaller sized chance of cardiovascular disease or stroke, so health care suppliers typically prescribe aspirin for this.
Unlike aspirin, Advil (ibuprofen) has an extremely moderate blood-thinning result, so if you have conditions where loss of platelets would be an issue, ibuprofen is a much better choice.
So, Aspirin is a winner from this point of view.
Side Effects of Advil
Although you get a yes from the concern, “Is Advil a blood thinner?” but before you take it you may want to check out the list of side effects first:
Popular Side Effects
- Stomachache.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Heartburn.
- Dizziness or sleepiness.
- Rash.
- Constipation.
- Ringing in ears.
More Serious Side Effects
- Inflammation of the liver or liver failure.
- Blood in urine.
- Low platelet count.
- UTI (urinary tract infection).
- Agranulocytosis (implying there are not enough white blood cells created by the bone marrow).
- Stroke or cardiac arrest.
- Damage to the kidneys.
- Hypertension or high blood pressure.
- Anemia or low red cell count.
- Harmful epidermal necrolysis or Stevens-Johnson syndrome, which is a skin response that can be severe or life threatening.
Other Blood Thinner Medications
Is Advil a blood thinner? We currently know the answer. If you are taking a medication that doesn’t work well with ibuprofen, you might need to know other blood thinners.
1. Other Types of Medical Blood Thinners
Here are 2 types of medications that can be used as blood thinners:
Antiplatelet Drugs
These medications work to avoid blood clots from forming by making sure the platelets do not clump. Antiplatelet medications fall under four types:
- Aspirin.
- Clopidogrel (Plavix).
- Ticlopidine (Ticlid).
- Dipyridamole (Persantie).
- Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors.
- Thienopyridines and other ADP receptor blockers.
Anticoagulants
This medication serves as a blood thinner by preventing blood clots from forming by lengthening the time it takes to clot. It also keeps the blood vessels open. The drugs in this field include:
- Warfarin (like Jantoven and Coumadin).
- Enosaparin (like Lovenox).
- Herparin.
- Apixaban (Eliquis).
- Dabigatran (Pradaxa).
- Rivaroxaban (Xarelto).
Note: Last three drugs are newer and have less risk of bleeding.
If you are unwilling to take medicines to thin your blood, you can try the following natural blood thinner to obtain the comparable results:
- Vitamin E makes certain that the oxidation levels do not review. Some foods in this classification include: spinach, Swiss chard, red bell peppers, almonds and kale.
- Natural antibiotics: You may have thinned your blood if you have been taking antibiotics for an extended period of time. Some foods that are natural antibiotics include jicama, garlic, onions, tree ear, garlic and olive oil.
- Sunlight: Vitamin D from being outdoors and exposed to the sun could lead to not just thinner blood but much better blood circulation.
- Drinking more water is the easiest and most effective way to thin your blood. The suggested amount is a half-ounce for each pound that you weigh every day.
- Salicylates obstruct vitamin K, which can thin your blood and promote your circulation. Foods which contain salicylates include oranges, prunes, strawberries, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, honey, vinegar and wine. Aspirin is among the most commonly used salicylates.
- Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids include fish, walnuts, pumpkin seeds and canola oil. These fatty acids lower cholesterol and discourage blood clots.
- Do energetic exercises routinely helps lower your vitamin K levels and thins your blood. So those lead a sedentary life has actually an increased risk of blood clotting.
Physician experience when using Advil as a blood thinner
Dr. Kraus is a respected physician who practices in a nursing home. He has observed that many of his patients experience pain accompanied by thick blood. To provide relief, he often recommends Advil, an over-the-counter pain reliever that he praises for its effectiveness.
One of Dr. Kraus’ patients, Monica, is concerned about the density of her blood and suffers from frequent headaches. Upon taking Advil, she notices that her blood becomes more fluid, thinner and she experiences relief from her headaches. She has grown to rely on Advil and even admits feeling a little sad when she hasn’t had a headache for a long time, as she misses taking the medication.
Another patient of Dr. Kraus, Kendra, is an old woman who has smoked cigarettes since her youth. During her recent visit to the doctor, she learned that it is safe for her to combine painkillers with blood thinners by taking ibuprofen. This has helped her manage her pain levels and feel more comfortable.
