Risk of confusion when taking anticoagulants

摘要

With increasing use of oral anticoagulants in primary and secondary care, we are becoming more aware of the risks of patient harm due to "over-anticoagulation", and the need for correct drug and dosing and patient monitoring. These risks are well understood when patients take vitamin K antagonists. The advent of the newer oral anticoagulants (e.g. the direct inhibitors of activated factor Xa rivaroxaban and apixaban, and the direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran) is introducing new and different risks.