What are the treatments for a deep vein thrombosis?
Anticoagulation – preventing the clot from getting larger Anticoagulation is often called ‘thinning the blood’. However, it does not actually thin the blood. It alters certain chemicals in the blood to stop clots forming so easily. This prevents a DVT from getting larger, and prevents any new clots from forming. Warfarin is the usual anticoagulant. However, it takes a few days for warfarin tablets to work fully. Therefore, heparin injections are used alongside warfarin in the first few days for immediate effect. A serious embolus is rare if you start anticoagulation treatment early after a DVT. The aim is to get the dose of warfarin just right so the blood will not clot easily, but not too much, which may cause bleeding problems. You will need regular blood tests whilst you take warfarin. You need them quite often at first, but then less frequently once the correct dose is found. (If you are pregnant, regular heparin injections rather than warfarin tablets may be used.) The length of t
