Is bruising a side effect of blood thinners?

Senior Cardiac Nurse, Chloe MacArthur, says:

Blood thinners (anticoagulants such as warfarin, or antiplatelets such as aspirin or clopidogrel) are taken by many people with heart and circulatory conditions. They interrupt the body’s clotting process, to help reduce the risk of clots which could cause a stroke or heart attack. This can mean that you are more likely to get bruising.

Bruises happen when the smallest blood vessels under the skin (capillaries) break and start to leak, causing discolouration. Blood thinners are designed to slow down the blood clotting, so the broken blood vessels take longer to stop leaking, which can lead to a worse bruise or bruising more easily.

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For most people taking these blood thinners, this is very manageable and isn’t something you need to worry about. If you notice more bruises after you start taking a blood thinner, there’s a good chance that the two are related. But bruising may not be caused by blood thinners, other illnesses or some vitamin deficiencies can also cause bruising.

Can I get help with paying my prescription?

Medical prescriptions are free in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. They are also free for people in England who meet certain criteria, including people who are:

under 16 or over 60
receiving Income Support, JSA, ESA or Universal Credit
pregnant
16-18 and in full-time education
and/or have certain health conditions, including a continuing disability or diabetes that can't be controlled with diet.

If you aren’t entitled to free prescriptions for your medicines you might be able to save money by buying a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC).

Getting help with prescription costs.

If you’re worried about the bruising, or if you’re experiencing other new symptoms (including other signs of bleeding, such as nosebleeds or bleeding gums), speak to your GP or specialist. You may need your blood thinner dose changed, or you may need to try a different medication. And if you are worried that your bruising is caused by something else, they will be able to reassure you or refer you for more tests.