Question about quik clot and blood thinner.

Have a question about powdered blood clotting agents (quik clot). Have an acquaintance that is taking blood thinner for a medical condition. A small pin prick, while not immediately life threatening, can take a couple of hours for him to get the bleeding under control. A minor injury could very well be a life threatening situation for him. When i asked him if his Dr. recommended anything for controlling bleeding from an injury he said that his Dr. said don't get hurt. Would quik clot be an appropriate treatment for minor bleeding that can not be easily stopped?

A person who is taking an anticoagulant needs to ask his doctor specifically about using this product. No guessing allowed.

Sue

In general, appropriately managed anticoagulation (usually this means Coumadin [generic – warfarin]) may prolong clotting for a short period. The usual treatment methods should be sufficient, i.e. direct pressure, to control bleeding. If a major vascular structure, either vein or artery, is involved it’s a different story and Quikclot or similar products may have some utility. Just asking – Has your friend had a blood test recently to asses his anticoagulant’s effect determined? Unfortunately this sometimes isn’t followed as closely as it should be. Many things affect warfarin’s effect, most of them potentiate the effects and excessive prolongation of bleeding times results. Here’s a link re: warfarin: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a682277.html

Good luck. Hope this helps some.
I agree with Susan's advice.

I would not use it. It will burn. see text of previous info.

C.P.

http://forums.equipped.org/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=9220&Number=100502#Post100502

The new quick-clot and ACS don't burn as much anymore. I now that you can use Celox on persons that take anticoagulantia, but I'm not sure if that also works with Quick-clot. Ask your GP.

Use of blood thinners is NOT a contra-indication for the use of clotting agents, when used as indicated and directed, although I endorse the other posters' suggestions about using standard methods first, consulting your own physician, and following up with labwork. I note Celox has come out with smaller packages, and I like the agent embedded into sponges as a convenient alternative to the loose powder form.

Jeff

Thanks to everyone. I mentioned that there are clotting agents on the market and that he should ask his Dr. if it is appropriate for his condition. Was asking more for my own knowledge. As i get um...older, i know more people on blood thinners and such. Most of them, that i know, just take a little longer to stop bleeding. This guy is fairly young, in his 30's, and if he gets a little pin prick it takes him a couple of hours to get the bleeding to stop. Just have not seen someone with this much trouble getting bleeding under control.

Thanks again,

It depends on the blood thinner. Coumadin, Aspirin, Plavix, etc, can work via different methods. So, yes, ask the doctor! Looking at how it works, by 'absorbing the fluid, leaving the clotting agents,' I would think that it wound't help much. Most blood thinners act by disrupting different steps in the coagulation cascade. think of building a fence: the platelets are the wood, the coag. factors are the nails. You reduce the nails with blood thinners, making it harder to clot.

http://www.defensetech.org/archives/000458.html
http://www.z-medica.com/quikclot/index.asp

Tell your mate that his 1st move is:
Change his doctor. "Don't get hurt" is not exactly the most helpful advice.
Down right unhelpful in fact.