Anti-coagulant vs anti-thrombolytic help

Nursing Students Student Assist

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Can someone please explain the difference and when one is used vs the other?

Anti-coagulant is to prevent the aggregation of platelets correct, so a clot does not form

Anti-thrombolytic is to prevent a thromos from forming what is the difference?

Thanks~

Okay~ I think I found my own answer~

anti-coag would prevent the formation of clots, while anti-thrombo would dissolve existing clots ~ is this correct?

Specializes in Utilization Management.

Yep, you got it. :D

Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

I have to disagree with the above. A thrombolytic will break up blood clots. An antithrombolytic will inhibit a thrombolytic from doing it's job of breaking up blood clots. Is there such a class of drugs? I looked up alteplase (TPA), a thrombolytic agent, to see what the antidotes were for accidental overdose and administering vasopressors was mentioned along with a bunch of other actions.

This is where knowing some medical terminology can be helpful. The term "antithrombolytic" breaks down to

anti -
against

thrombo -
blood clot

ly -
from "lysis" which means the condition of setting free or dissolution; the "-sis" part of ly
sis
is a suffix that means condition

tic -
the suffix attached to "ly" meaning pertaining to

the meaning, then, is
pertaining to being against dissolution of blood clots.

after much searching.....two med dict. and an encylopedia.....within which the word doesnt exist.....have come to the conclusion that it is like.."inflammable and flammable".....indeed they are "clot busters" why the "anti- " in front , is beyond me.....

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Bec, I think you're confusing "antithrombolytic" with "antithrombotic"

A thrombolytic dissolves clots.

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