Dealing with blood thinners and the various options that exist may make some people scratch their heads. Various blood thinners offer different positive aspects for the patient. It is important to know and understand those differences to make a sound decision with your doctor. When choosing a blood thinner such as Lovenox or heparin, knowing the details may be vital. We at Prescription Hope want to help you in the decision-making process by providing resources and support.
What is a Blood Thinner Used For?
The human body truly is a masterpiece. When your body gets injured, it springs into action. For instance, if a blood vessel receives a nick or a scratch (as they often do), the body will send various materials to repair the wound.
First, platelets arrive at the wound and begin to cover the gap. This slows the flow of blood through the gap and provides a useful work site for other helpers. Enzymes join the platelets and proteins such as factor V to help facilitate the production of a thick, stringy substance called fibrin. The fibrin and the platelets join to create a powerful barrier over the gap in the blood vessel. After that, enzymes begin repairing the wound.
Unfortunately, this process does not always go as it is supposed to. At times, some of us may develop a condition called an abnormal blood clot. This occurs when the fibrin creation process does not stop on time.
What Causes an Abnormal Blood Clot?
Many different factors may result in a blood clot. Some of them include:
- Being over 60 years old
- Having a blood clotting disorder
- A result of trauma or injury
- Result of surgery
- Estrogen
- Inactivity/lack of movement
- Smoking
- Pregnancy
While some of these are avoidable and others are not, taking care of your body can help prevent serious blood clots. Exercising, good nutrition, not smoking, and getting up to move around regularly all may help reduce the risk of experiencing an abnormal blood clot.
What if I Have a Blood Clot?
Treatment of a blood clot depends on the nature of the clot. If the clot is in a dangerous place and poses a threat of moving to an area such as the lungs, brain, or heart, then doctors may immediately treat it. Treatment may include thrombolytic drugs (also called clot-busters) or surgery.
If the clot does not appear to be as dangerous, your doctor may prescribe you a blood thinner. These may include either anticoagulants for clotting factor problems, or antiplatelets to help regulate issues regarding platelets.
What are Lovenox and Heparin?
Lovenox and heparin are both categorized as anticoagulants. This means they are powerful tools in fighting deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). DVT occurs when a clot makes its way into the deep veins of the body, such as the leg, pelvic region, or arms. PE results from a clot making its way to the lungs.
Both Lovenox and heparin work by binding to a protein molecule called antithrombin. They then block enzymes responsible for blood clotting. Some of those enzymes include thrombin, factor Xa, and others. While Lovenox is categorized as a heparin, it is considered a low molecular weight heparin, or LMWH. Heparin acts faster and can inhibit both Xa and thrombin, while an LMWH only acts on Xa.
While both may help in inhibiting the blood clotting process, they also are useful post-surgery. Since bed rest after surgery may cause blood clotting issues, treatment with Lovenox or heparin may become necessary.
How are Lovenox and Heparin Different?
Even though heparin remains useful, Lovenox offers some advantages for those who are outside of a medical setting. Heparin often requires monitoring or supervision to properly regulate the effects of the medication. However, Lovenox has a longer half-life, meaning its effects are more predictable and do not necessarily need supervision or extensive monitoring.
Furthermore, heparin has received approval to reduce the risk of blood clots from atrial fibrillation. Along with this, heparin has also received approval for helping to reduce the risk of blood clots from blood transfusions and dialysis procedures. However, Lovenox has received approval to help treat and reduce complications for chest pain such as unstable angina and non-Q-wave myocardial infarction.
Unfortunately, heparin often requires administration from a medical professional, whereas most people can administer Lovenox themselves after receiving some guidance.
As for women who are pregnant, recommendations lean towards LMWHs during pregnancy. This is due to the application and monitoring differences. However, the risks of thromboembolic complications are higher with LMWH and heparin compared to warfarin. Unfortunately, warfarin has been associated with a higher risk of both maternal and fetal hemorrhage. In addition, warfarin has a higher risk factor of fetal loss.
What are the Side Effects of Lovenox or Heparin?
While side effects tend to be mild, a patient may experience some pain, swelling, bruising, irritation, or sensitivity near the injection site. However, these side effects go away on their own.
Other side effects may include excessive or severe bleeding. If you notice:
- Heavy bruising
- Bloody stool
- Blood in the urine
- Weakness
- Paleness
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
Then get checked out immediately. These may be signs of a more severe bleeding episode.
While Lovenox has been linked to side effects such as nausea and diarrhea, heparin does not seem to cause issues with these.
Is Lovenox or Heparin More Effective?
Both provide effective treatment for blood clots. Determining which drug is best for your situation will require conversations with your doctor. Factors such as cost, treatment procedures, side effects, and condition will all play a role in making the right decision for you.
Since Lovenox is an LMWH, both play a similar role in effectiveness when dealing with blood clots, DVT, and PE.
Is Lovenox or Heparin More Expensive?
Both receive coverage under certain conditions with Medicare or insurance. With Lovenox, insurance tends to prefer covering generic Lovenox, but may not take care of the entire cost.
Heparin also tends to receive coverage under Medicare and insurance. Additionally, heparin retails at a much lower cost than the average price of Lovenox.
Should I take Lovenox or Heparin?
This decision can only be made between you and your doctor. As stated before, issues such as cost, treatment procedures, side effects, and condition will factor into your choice. While the choice is individualized, Prescription Hope may be able to help with either of them.
How to Get Lovenox or Heparin?
Those who purchase Lovenox or heparin, whether through insurance, rebate programs, Medicare, or out-of-pocket often deal with high costs and strain on their budget. Considering the importance of this medication, nobody should have to choose between their prescription medications or their bills.
Instead, finding affordable options or low-cost drugs could be the difference between having what you need or not being able to provide support to a loved one.
While various programs exist to help those with needs for medications, such programs are often messy and complex. People seek out rebates and government programs but find themselves buried in paperwork and phone calls. Many prescription assistance programs come with complex variables. Unfortunately, people get lost and confused trying to find affordable anticoagulant medication.
At Prescription Hope, we offer an affordable and simple process to get affordable meds every month.
How It Works
Those who wish to apply can visit PrescriptionHope.com. After becoming familiar with what Prescription Hope offers, you are welcome to complete and submit an online enrollment form. Once you submit the enrollment, Prescription Hope can pre-qualify you as soon as we determine we can assist based on the information provided.
After we receive all the requested paperwork from you and your healthcare provider, the first order of medication often arrives within 2 to 4 weeks. We will then place refills ahead of time so that you receive your medication on a regular schedule.
Medications typically arrive in a 90-day supply, directly to your home or healthcare provider’s office, depending on the requirements of the pharmaceutical company that ships your medication.
Prescription Hope’s Mission is to Help You Get Lovenox and Heparin
Prescription Hope dedicates itself to helping those with blood clotting disorders get the affordable meds they need at a reasonable monthly rate. We know both Lovenox and heparin provide vital, lifesaving anticoagulation for a person with blood clotting disorders, but we also know the expenses. Most importantly, we understand the necessity of Lovenox and heparin. We desire every member to live without the stress and worry of paying too much for their prescriptions. After all, we refuse to believe anybody should have to choose between warfarin or the costs of living.
We provide a simple, consistent monthly rate of $70.00 per medication for over 1,500 medications. This means that not just people with blood clotting issues can benefit from what we offer. Our heart is to help you get access to affordable prescription medications.
If you or a loved one have a blood clotting issue and are looking for cost savings on drugs or affordable blood thinner medications such as Lovenox or heparin, then please visit us at www.PrescriptionHope.com to learn more about how we can save you money every month!
