If a clot forms in a diseased coronary artery, oxygen no longer flows to the part of the heart muscle that is supplied by the artery. The lack of oxygen causes angina and leads to a heart attack. Blood thinners play an important role in the treatment of angina and heart attack. They reduce the risk for the formation of a clot in the narrowed coronary artery by interrupting the clotting process.

Blood thinners:

• Aspirin
• Ticlopidine (Ticlid)
• Dipyridamole (Persantine)
• Glycoprotein IIb-IIIa receptor inhibitor medications
• Clopidogrel (Plavix)
• Abciximab (ReoPro)
• Eptifibatide (Integrilin)
• Tirofiban (Aggrastat)
• Heparin
• Low molecular weight heparin:
• Enoxaparin (Lovenox)
• Dalteparin (Fragmin)
• Tinzaparin (Innohep)
• Ardeparin (Normiflo)