News Outlet Reports of Typical Heart Drugs Disrupting Blood Thinners

According to a study published in a recent issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, blood thinners, such as Plavix, may be disrupted by common heart drugs including calcium channel blockers.

What is a Blood Thinner?

The Texas Heart Institute explains that a blood thinner is a prescription drug that is used to decrease the following:

* heart attack

* stroke

* blockages in arteries

* clumps of blood (blood clots) that are forming, growing

Blood thinners are described as anticoagulants, which, despite that they are called blood thinners, actually do not thin the blood, but rather "decrease the blood’s ability to clot and decreased clotting keeps fewer harmful blood clots from forming and from blocking blood vessels," according to the Texas Heart Institute’s Heart Information Center.

Candidates for blood thinners are usually individuals who have had the following conditions:

* heart valve replacement

* atrial fibrillation

* phlebitis

* congestive heart failure

* obesity

There is a lengthy list of potential harmful interactions that can threaten an individual’s health while taking blood thinners. The following are a list of medications that should be discussed prior to consuming a blood thinner or prior to beginning a blood thinner prescription.

* acetaminophens

* aspirin

* antacids

* corticosteroids

* antidepressants

* antihistamines

* sleeping pills

* ibuprofen

* naproxen

* ketoprofen

* antiarrhythmics

* calcium and vitamin K supplements

* certain antifungal medicines

* overactive thyroid medicines

* convulsion medicines

* certain antibiotics

While calcium and additional vitamin K supplements have been know to interact mildly with blood thinners, according to the study from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the combination can be deadly inactivating the "enzyme essential for the activity" of a blood thinner.

Plavix was used for testing during the study, but according to WebMD, there are an array of blood thinner brands including:

* Heparin

* Lovenox

* Fragmin

* Plavix

* Coumadin

Of these types of blood thinners, is the rather controversial Heparin, also known as heparin sodium, which was released in 1972 from Baxter Healthcare Corporation.

Americans consuming the drug began to report allergic reactions in 2007; reactions allegedly caused by the drug. According to news reports, the tainted Heparin was derived from a manufacturing plant in China, which quickly became the center for an international investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

While the injectable drug was being used in thousands of surgical procedures, including dialysis and heart surgery, patients were becoming sick with the following reactions:

* vomiting

* excessive sweating

* rapidly falling blood pressure

* nausea

* difficulty breathing

* shock

* death

Blood Thinner Side Effects

It is imperative that patients, as well as family and friends of a Baxter Heparin patient, contact a medical professional immediately upon signs and symptoms of the tainted Baxter Heparin.

Although sales were halted of the drug, many individuals who previously received the drug during a surgical procedure are still able to become involved in a Heparin class action lawsuit for the potential harm that might have been caused to one’s health. To learn more about this and to receive a free legal consultation, contact a pharmaceutical law firm that can better explain the details of a Baxter Heparin lawsuit in which monetary compensation may be an outcome for a Heparin victim.

Copyright (c) 2008 Katie Kelley

Article Source: http://nichecontentarticles.com

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