Serious Side Effects Of Blood Thinners

Muscle Weakness

Muscle weakness can occur for various reasons in individuals taking blood thinners. Depending on the type of medication and the area of the weakness, this may or may not be a potential emergency. For instance, blood thinners can cause some individuals to develop anemia, and one of the symptoms of this condition is muscle weakness. The red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen and nutrients to the muscles, and when there aren't enough red blood cells, the muscles aren't being supplied with adequate nutrients or oxygen, which means they don't have usable energy and this can cause muscle weakness.

Anemia-related muscle weakness tends to pervade the entire body since it's caused by a problem with blood cell count. If an individual's muscle weakness is localized to one area, they may have a dangerous blood clot. Weakness and numbness in the lower back and extremities is an indicator of a spinal blood clot, which needs emergency medical attention.

Blood In Urine Or Stool

Blood in the urine or stool is a potentially serious side effect of blood thinners. It is a sign of excessive bleeding, and patients should seek immediate medical attention if they experience this side effect. When blood is present in the urine, it might appear red or brown. Blood in the stool typically makes the stool appear red or black, and patients might also see drops of blood on the toilet paper or in the toilet bowl after having a bowel movement.

To investigate blood in the urine or stool, doctors will order blood tests, and it may be necessary to take urine or stool samples and do a rectal exam. If doctors determine the symptoms are caused by the patient's medication, this may be stopped temporarily until symptoms resolve. The patient may also be switched to a different blood thinner to see if it does not cause this side effect.