Sintrom

The Sintrom is the trade name of an anticoagulant called acenocumarol . Its usual administration is daily and it is a drug widely known for its use among people who have suffered, mainly, the following health problems, related to the blood circulatory system :

• Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (cardiac arrhythmia).
• Complications with the heart valves.
• Venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism.

The administration of this medicine is carried out orally, through small pills, and the person who takes it must periodically go to the doctor to check that the doses administered are adequate at all times, according to the level of coagulation of their blood.

This medicine is prescribed with the main objective of maintaining a certain level of liquidity of the blood and, in this way, avoiding obstructions in the bloodstream and, consequently, the formation of clots.

In cases of patients taking Sintrom, it is essential to follow medical indications and undergo regular checks, while combining their intake with a diet that does not produce negative interactions.

Added to this is the need to be aware of the possible side effects and contraindications of this drug, which, as we will see below, are varied in number and intensity.

When talking about Sintrom, in addition to referring to acenocoumarol , there are people who may be referring to other medications with the same indications, such as Aldocumar or Warfarin, which have the same anticoagulant properties, although they are not as common in Spain as Sintrom.

What is a blood thinner?

An anticoagulant is a drug that slows the rate of blood clotting. That is, drugs such as Sintrom stop the formation of thrombi and clots, stopping the process by which the blood loses its liquidity and tends to acquire a greater density.

The formation of a clot or stagnation of blood in solid state, within the arteries or veins, poses a serious danger to health. There is the possibility that they form in the brain, travel from veins to organs or block a valve, putting our health, and ultimately our lives, at high risk.

Essential process

The blood clotting process is essential to survive in cases of bleeding, cuts or accidents with wounds, so that the body stops its output and consequent bleeding. But when there are risks of clotting and thrombi, anticoagulant medications, such as Sintrom , come into play .

Blood clots

Clotting, as the blood solidifies, can totally or partially block blood flow, resulting in the following types of clots:

1. Thrombus: clot formed within a vein, artery, or in the heart.
2. Embolus: it is a thrombus that detaches from its place of formation, moving to another area of ​​the body.

Blockage of flow in an artery can prevent tissues from getting the oxygen supply they need. In this case, ischemia occurs, which if not treated in time and in the correct way, can cause damage to those tissues or even cause death.

In the case of vein obstructions, fluid accumulation, swelling, and bulging usually occur.

When is Sintrom administered

The Sintrom is mainly administered to people at risk of emboli or thrombosis, arrhythmias or complications of the heart valves. It seeks to avoid the risk of clot formation, inhibiting the formation of a protein called fibrin.

More specifically, the most common causes for supplying Sintrom are:

• Venous thromboembolism.
• Placement of a heart valve prosthesis.
• Acute myocardial infarction.
• Atrial fibrillation
• Transient ischemic attack.
• Hereditary thrombophilia.
• Valvular disease.
• Dilated cardiomyopathy.

Common checks

Taking Sintrom and visiting the doctor are two elements that go hand in hand, because this drug is taken in variable doses depending on the level of blood clotting, which in each person and at any time may be different.

For this reason, it is necessary to carry out periodic controls or blood tests, which are usually carried out with a small prick of the finger and the extraction of a drop of sample.

The results are analyzed by the specialist, who later sets the ideal dose to maintain the necessary level of blood fluidity.

The parameter that indicates the coagulation level is known as INR, according to the recommendation of the World Health Organization, responding to the meaning of the International Normalized Ratio or INR (International Normalized Ratio).

In most cases of correct rates, patients should report INR values ​​between 2 and 3, although it may be somewhat higher in people with prosthetic valves and those recovering from thrombosis.

A low INR is given when the dose of Sintrom is insufficient and a high INR when the dose exceeds the recommended and there is a risk of bleeding. In both cases, it is necessary to modify the doses to achieve an INR level within the correct parameters.

If the wrong doses of Sintrom are ingested, consequences of varying severity can occur, such as bleeding, in cases of excess, or thromboembolism when the dose is not sufficient.

It is here when the importance of periodic controls is understood to establish the dose guidelines in each case. And to this is added that the effects of Sintrom can be altered by factors such as diet, malabsorptive disease states, diarrhea, fever , stress , poor therapeutic compliance or the intake of other drugs.

Sintrom side effects

People taking Sintrom may experience bleeding, of varying intensity and severity. Sometimes there is blood in the urine, darker stools, nosebleeds, or small bleeds from the gums.

In these cases, the patient must be alert and not let time pass without notifying a doctor or going to the emergency room in cases of heavy bleeding, which may pose an imminent health risk.

In some cases there are bruises, although this circumstance is not always directly related to the intake of Sintrom, but is part of the clinical picture of the patient and the associated symptoms.

Nutritional tips

Sintrom treatment can be altered by many factors and one of them is a diet that interacts with the effects of this medicine. Therefore, when in doubt, it is best to consult a specialist, either a doctor or a pharmacist, who knows how to guide us.

There are foods high in vitamin K , whose intake should be moderated or avoided completely. Herbal products, diet products or herbal teas, which can alter the INR.

Foods that you can eat

The person taking Sintrom can eat foods that do not contain vitamin K.

Among them are fruits such as bananas, apples, grapes, grapefruits, blueberries, melons, lemons or oranges.

There are also vegetables such as cauliflower, green beans, carrots, celery, corn, eggplants, mushrooms, green onions or peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, squash, pickles, or sauerkraut.

Food not recommended

When foods contain vitamin K, it is necessary to take special precaution or even avoid consuming them. If they have a high level of vitamin K they should not be ingested more than once every 7 days and when their level is medium, no more than twice a week.

Medium level: olive oil, artichokes, asparagus, avocados, peas, green lettuce, cabbage, tomato and margarine.

High level: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, endives, spinach, cabbages, red leaf lettuce, parsley, turnips, watercress, chard, mustard beans, green tea, mayonnaise and soybean oil.

Interactions with other medications

The acenocoumarol has a chemical structure of coumarin type and yields a high probability of interaction with other drugs, which poses a risk of altering the effects of treatment and its anticoagulant annular purpose.

There are medicines that can change the plasma levels of vitamin K, among which are certain antibiotics with the ability to modify the intestinal flora that synthesize vitamin K. Among them are steroids, anabolics and drugs that affect thyroid function.

There are interactions with drugs that perform the same function as Sintrom, such as heparin and salicylates. Therefore, if they are consumed simultaneously, there can be a synergy or intensification of their effect.

The maxims to follow in these cases are prevention and precaution, because any medication could influence the treatment with Sintrom, with unwanted effects.

The results may increase the risk of hemorrhage, if the anticoagulant effect is intensified, or thromboembolism if it is decreased, therefore, if additional drugs are needed, it is recommended to administer only those strictly necessary and under the pertinent controls and supervision of specialists.

In some cases, even stopping the treatment and replacing it with a less harmful one can be considered, always taking into account the needs of the patient.

Precautions

Like any other medicine, the use of Sintrom requires a series of precautions.

• Do not ingest after the expiration date indicated on the product.
• Consume as soon as possible if you miss a dose and recover the indicated periodicity as soon as possible.
• Store it at room temperature and out of the reach of children.
• If you are a patient with intolerances, consult your doctor before taking Sintrom.