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• With Mayo Clinic cardiologist

  Martha Grogan, M.D.

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  Biography of

  Martha Grogan, M.D.

  Martha Grogan, M.D.

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  Dr. Martha Grogan is board-certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular diseases. She is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and received her medical degree from Northwestern University Medical School. Dr. Grogan has been on staff at Mayo Clinic since 1995 and is a consultant in the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases and is an assistant professor of medicine at Mayo Medical School.

  Dr. Grogan is a noninvasive cardiologist specializing in heart failure, adult congenital heart disease and echocardiography. She has witnessed firsthand the importance of patient education in the treatment of diseases such as congestive heart failure and is excited about the tremendous educational opportunities now available through the Internet.

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Question

Blood thinners: Can I still get blood clots?

If you're taking a blood thinner, is it still possible for you to get a blood clot?

Answer

from Martha Grogan, M.D.

Yes. Medications that are commonly called blood thinners — such as aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), dabigatran (Pradaxa), rivaroxaban (Xarelto) and heparin — significantly decrease your risk of blood clotting, but will not decrease the risk to zero. These medications must be taken exactly as directed to work safely and effectively. Taking too little of these medications may not be effective, and taking too much can lead to serious bleeding.

Also, blood thinners may not be able to lessen the strong blood-clotting tendency of an underlying disease, such as cancer.

Interactions with other medications, food and alcohol are common with blood-thinning medications, especially warfarin. These interactions may decrease the effectiveness of your blood thinner, making you more likely to develop blood clots. If you take a blood thinner, be sure to follow your doctor's advice on dosing and ask about foods and other medications — including over-the-counter drugs and herbal supplements — that may interfere with the blood thinner.

• See Also

• Membranous nephropathy
• Warfarin: Any harm in long-term use?
• Thrombophlebitis
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Warfarin side effects: Watch for interactions
• Warfarin diet: What foods should I avoid?

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