Medications
Aspirin and Other Blood Thinners
Aspirin and warfarin (coumarin) are the most common blood thinners, but
there are others (clopidogrel, heparin, clexane, and more).
Anybody on
blood thinners should be very careful of bruising and bleeding... even a
small puncture such as a needle prick can bleed for a considerable period
of time (hours).
The treatment is the same as for you and I... pressure.
Don't use a tourniquet... Just press with a dressing over the bleeding, or
wrap the whole thing up in a bandage.
If bleeding continues, seek medical
help... the anticoagulants may need to be reversed.
Also beware of
internal bleeding... especially in the abdomen and head... even a minor
head injury or abdominal trauma can cause MAJOR problems, even death.
It
is possible to lose a considerable amount of blood into the tissues of
the buttocks or thigh... even enough to cause shock/trauma.
Bruising is much more dramatic on people who take blood thinners. Never beat an area that is still showing any signs of previous bruising.
There is a high risk of blood clots moving from the bruised area to vital organs in the body which can result in complications and even death.
Note: This advice is for aspirin when taken long term as a blood thinner for heart conditions and not as an occasional headache pill
Bruising from a light paddling on the virgin bum of an aspirin taker
Viagra
Don't mix viagra and GTN (the under the tongue spray or tabs for treating
angina) EVER, they combine to cause a catastrophic fall in blood pressure
that is extremely unpleasant and can be life threatening.
This happens
even if they are taken several hours apart.