The 2 types of blood thinners work in different ways (Figure). Blood-thinning drugs have been used for many years. Newer medications are now available, but they may be more costly or less convenient or have other drawbacks compared with older drugs. Some commonly used anticoagulants are heparin, enoxaparin or other low-molecular-weight heparins, fondaparinux, and warfarin; newer anticoagulants are dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban. Common antiplatelets include aspirin, aspirin plus extended-release dipyri-damole, clopidogrel, prasugrel, and the newer drug cangrelor.
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