What should be monitored in patients receiving anticoagulants?

Monitoring for signs of bleeding or bruising is crucial for patients receiving anticoagulants because these medications increase the risk of bleeding due to their mechanism of action, which interferes with the normal clotting process. Anticoagulants are prescribed to prevent and treat thromboembolic events, but they can also lead to excessive bleeding if not carefully managed.

Patients should be educated to recognize signs such as unusual bruising, prolonged bleeding from cuts, blood in urine or stool, and other signs of hemorrhage, which can indicate that the anticoagulant effects are too strong or that there are complications arising from the therapy. Regular monitoring is essential to ensure that anticoagulation therapy is within the therapeutic range to minimize risks and maximize efficacy.

While monitoring blood pressure and liver function tests can also be important in certain contexts, particularly for assessing overall health or potential side effects of specific anticoagulants, the primary concern with anticoagulant therapy is the risk of bleeding, making the observation of such signs a key focus of patient monitoring.