Are blood thinners available over the counter?

In this article:

• Can you get blood thinners over the counter?
• Over-the-counter blood thinners
• Natural blood thinners

In this article

• Can you get blood thinners over the counter?
• Over-the-counter blood thinners
• Natural blood thinners

Blood thinners, which include anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs, are medications that interfere with blood clot formation, either by slowing down clotting factors or preventing platelets from clumping. These medications are used after cardiac events such as heart attacks and strokes to treat blood clots or to lower the risk of blood clots. While anticoagulants are only available by prescription, a few antiplatelet medications are available over the counter (OTC) and can be purchased at a local pharmacy.

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Can you get blood thinners over the counter?

. Anticoagulant blood thinners disrupt the coagulation cascade, preventing blood clots from growing and forming. Anticoagulant blood thinners – such as warfarin, Lovenox, Eliquis, and Xarelto – are only available by prescription.

 Antiplatelet medications slow the clustering of platelets, which also helps prevent clots from forming in the blood vessels. Some, like Plavix, are prescription only, while others, like aspirin, are available over the counter. 

Both anticoagulants and antiplatelet medications are valuable in reducing the risk of severe cardiovascular issues such as heart attack and stroke, which can be fatal. However, they are used for different purposes and cannot be substituted for each other.

Anticoagulants are only available by prescription due to the risks associated with taking them. However, even when a medication is available over the counter, that doesn’t mean it is without side effects or consequences. Consult with your healthcare provider before beginning a regular dosage of prescription or OTC blood thinners.

Over-the-counter blood thinners

Kiara DeWitt, BSN, RN, CPN of Injectco in Colleyville, Texas, says that aspirin is the most accessible OTC blood-thinning medication. Low-dose aspirin—usually 81 milligrams (mg)—is commonly used as a mild antiplatelet medication. Aspirin may be recommended as part of a treatment or prevention regimen for heart attacks and strokes. 

Ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve) are also known for having a mild antiplatelet effect, but DeWitt says that to refer to these drugs as blood thinners without further context is misleading. Both drugs are mild antiplatelet drugs, but carry a risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, she explains. “You can bleed from both if overused. But they do not give you the protective benefits of true anticoagulants.”

Michael O. McKinney, MD, of Healthy Outlook in Jacksonville, Florida, agrees. “Aspirin is the principal OTC medication with blood-thinning action,” he says. “Other NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, have slight antiplatelet action but are not employed to prevent clotting and may even negate the effect of aspirin if used in combination.”

Ultimately, your healthcare provider will decide if OTC blood thinners are right for your condition or if prescription blood thinners are necessary. 

“Blood thinners prescribed by your physician, such as warfarin, apixaban (Eliquis), or rivaroxaban (Xarelto), are far better suited to manage serious clotting disorder conditions such as atrial fibrillation or deep vein thrombosis,” Dr. McKinney says. These medications are both more powerful and targeted, used when the clotting risk is unpredictable or serious.

DeWitt agrees. “OTC options work best for long-term maintenance in lower-risk cases, under supervision,” she says. “You do not use aspirin post-surgery in place of Lovenox. It’s about specificity. Prescription medications are tailored to timing, metabolism, and risk score. OTCs are a general tool, not a surgical one.”

Natural blood thinners

There are supplements and herbal remedies that have blood-thinning action. However, they cannot be used in place of anticoagulants or antiplatelet medications by people who are at high risk of clots. 

Natural blood thinners include:

• Fish oil (omega-3 fatty acids): In healthy patients, fish oil has been found to reduce platelet aggregation.
• Vitamin E: As a natural blood thinner, it’s possible that vitamin E can help in the prevention of blood clots. 
• Garlic: Sometimes used to help prevent heart disease and strokes, garlic is a natural blood thinner.
• Turmeric (curcumin): Turmeric has been found to positively regulate anticoagulant function. 
• Ginkgo biloba: This plant has been found to have antiplatelet effects, potentially reducing blood clots. 
• Ginger: In a study, ginger inhibited platelet aggregation in patients with coronary artery disease.

These dietary supplements may help the body naturally dissolve or prevent blood clots, but also come with risks.

Doses of these supplements vary and are not regulated with the same standards as pharmaceuticals, so it’s important to consult with a healthcare provider before beginning a natural blood thinner regimen. 

Herbal supplements may also interact negatively with other blood thinners and medications. Always tell your healthcare provider about all OTC and prescription medications, vitamins, and herbal remedies you now take or are considering.

Both McKinney and DeWitt agree that fish oil has the most evidence among herbal blood-thinning supplements. “It has the most research behind it and the most consistent response,” DeWitt says. “That being said, it should never be paired with a prescription blood thinner without provider oversight. That is the kind of combo that can land someone in the ER for a nosebleed that won’t stop.”