Anticoagulant therapy
Anticoagulant therapy – Blood sampling for anticoagulation therapy follow-up
Find a Uniprix location offering the blood sampling service for anticoagulant therapy follow-up
Certain illnesses or health issues can require anticoagulant therapy to thin the blood.
When taking an anticoagulant agent, you must take blood tests on a regular basis to monitor the status of your anticoagulant therapy. Your INR (International Normalized Ratio), which indicates the state of blood coagulation, is then established. It is generally recommended to reach an INR between 2 and 3 or between 2.5 and 3.5, depending on the disease being treated. A higher INR means freer-flowing, i.e. thinner blood, while a lower INR means that the blood is thicker.
Blood clots can subsequently form in the arteries, veins or heart. They are dangerous because they prevent blood and oxygen from reaching the vital organs and tissues. If they get lodged in the heart or brain, they can cause a heart attack or cerebrovascular accident (stroke).
To make sure that your anticoagulant dosage is adequate, you must undergo regular blood tests. Many Uniprix-affiliated pharmacies have the necessary equipment to perform these follow-up tests.
Ask your pharmacist for an anticoagulant therapy health status log included in the health journal.
Find a Uniprix location offering the blood sampling service for anticoagulant therapy follow-up
Anticoagulant therapy – Dosage adjustment
Find a Uniprix location offering the dosage adjustment service
Many of our Uniprix-affiliated pharmacists can ensure that your anticoagulant dosage is appropriate based on your last blood test. If needed, they can share the results or the analysis of these results with other health professionals to ensure personalized follow-up.
Though they are rare, anticoagulant therapy can lead to certain side effects. Don’t hesitate to mention these to your pharmacist or doctor so that they may have on hand all the necessary information to adjust your dosage.
Your pharmacist can give you the advice you need to control the status of your blood coagulation. For example, vitamin K, which can be found in many green vegetables, can hinder the action of anticoagulant agents and modify your INR (measure of your blood’s ability to clot). Consequently, you must eat similar size portions of these foods on a regular basis.
In addition, you should always talk to your pharmacist before taking any over-the-counter medication, natural products or vitamins since many of these interact with anticoagulant therapies. Your pharmacist is there to guide you!
Ask for an anticoagulant therapy health status log included in the health journal.
Find a Uniprix location offering the dosage adjustment service
