Are there alternatives to warfarin that can be used to prevent blood clots?
Currently, the only alternatives to warfarin available in the US are medications that must be injected or provided intravenously. Examples include heparin and low molecular weight heparin. Brand name low molecular weight heparin products include Lovenox, Innohep, and Fragmin. There are no “natural” alternatives to warfarin or warfarin-like medications* that have been scientifically shown to have benefit. One substance that gets a good bit of attention is nattokinase. Nattokinase is a substance found in a common Japanese food called natto, which is made of fermented soybeans. Nattokinase has been shown to have some anti-clotting characteristics, but there is no good scientific data to show that it is safe and effective when used in humans. Stephan Moll, MD of the University of North Carolina addresses the issue of nattokinase quite nicely on the FVL Support website. In recent years, there has been a good deal of development among drug companies in this field. Many warfarin alternatives
