Could Your Everyday Pills Affect Your Blood Clot Risk? Here’s What You Should Know
Many medicines are safe and beneficial when taken correctly, but some medications can affect the way your blood clots. In certain people, this can increase the risk of a blood clot, while other medicines are specifically used to prevent clots.
One important example is estrogen-containing hormonal contraception, such as some combined birth-control pills. These medicines can increase the risk of venous blood clots. The overall risk is still low for most users, but it can be higher when other risk factors are present.
Who May Have a Higher Risk?
Factors that can increase the risk of a blood clot include:
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Previous blood clots
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Certain inherited blood-clotting disorders
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Smoking, particularly in combination with estrogen-containing contraception
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Obesity
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Prolonged immobility, such as during long travel or after major surgery
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Pregnancy and the period after giving birth
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Some cancers and serious medical conditions
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Increasing age, depending on the medication and individual circumstances
This doesn’t mean someone with one of these factors will necessarily develop a clot. It means their medication choices may need additional consideration by a healthcare professional.
Know the Warning Signs
A blood clot in a deep vein, commonly called deep vein thrombosis (DVT), may cause:
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Swelling in one leg
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Pain or tenderness, especially in the calf
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Unexplained warmth
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Red or discolored skin
A clot that travels to the lungs, called a pulmonary embolism (PE), can be life-threatening. Warning signs can include:
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Sudden shortness of breath
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Chest pain that may become worse with deep breathing
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Rapid heartbeat
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Coughing, sometimes with blood
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Fainting or severe dizziness
Sudden breathing difficulty, severe chest pain, coughing up blood, or fainting requires urgent medical attention.
Don’t Stop Your Medication on Your Own
If you’re taking a prescription medicine and are concerned about clot risk, don’t suddenly stop it without medical advice. Your doctor or pharmacist can review your medication, personal risk factors, and possible alternatives.
Also remember that not every pill associated with the cardiovascular system increases clot risk. Some medicines—including anticoagulants—are actually prescribed specifically to prevent or treat blood clots.
The Takeaway
Knowing your medication’s potential side effects is a smart part of staying safe. Check the patient information that comes with your medicine, tell your healthcare professional about your medical history and other medications, and seek urgent care if you develop symptoms that could indicate a serious blood clot.
Never change a prescribed medication solely because of something you read online.
