Treatment

The main goals in treating deep vein thrombosis are to:

• Stop the clot from getting bigger
• Prevent the clot from breaking off in your vein and moving to your lungs
• Reduce your chance of having another blood clot

Medicines

Several types of medicine may be used to treat and/or prevent deep vein thrombosis:

• Anticoagulants decrease your blood's ability to clot. They are also known as blood thinners. They are used to stop clots from forming in people who are at risk for clots and to stop already formed clots from getting bigger. They do not break up blood clots that have already formed. (The body itself dissolves most clots over time.)
  
  Anticoagulants can be taken as either a pill (warfarin) or an injection (heparin).
  
  Your doctor may treat you with both heparin and warfarin (Coumadin) at the same time. Heparin acts quickly. Warfarin takes 2 to 3 days before it starts to work. Once the warfarin starts to work, the heparin is stopped.
  
  Pregnant women can’t take warfarin and are treated with heparin only.
  
  Treatment for deep vein thrombosis with anticoagulants usually lasts from 3 to 6 months. However, the following situations may change the length of treatment:
  • If your blood clot occurred after a short-term risk (for example, surgery), your treatment may be shorter.
  • If you have had clots before, you will need longer treatment.
  • If you have certain other illnesses, such as cancer, you may need to take anticoagulants for as long as the illness is present.
  The most common side effect of anticoagulants is bleeding. You should call your doctor right away if you are taking warfarin or heparin and have easy bruising or bleeding. Blood tests can check how well the medicine is working.
• Thrombolytics are medicines given to quickly dissolve a blood clot. They are used to treat large clots that cause severe symptoms. Because thrombolytics can cause sudden bleeding, they are used only in life-threatening situations.
• Thrombin inhibitors are medicines that interfere with the clotting process. They are used to treat some types of clots and for patients who can’t take heparin.

Other Treatments

• Vena cava filters are used when you can’t take medicines to thin your blood, or when you are taking blood thinners but continue to develop clots anyway. The filter is inserted inside a large vein called the vena cava. The filter catches clots that break off in a vein before they move through the bloodstream to the lungs (pulmonary embolism). The filter doesn’t prevent new clots from developing.
• Graduated compression stockings can reduce the chronic swelling that can occur after a blood clot has developed in a leg. The leg swelling is due to damage to the valves in the leg veins. Graduated compression stockings are worn on the legs from the arch of the foot to just above or below the knee. These stockings are tight at the ankle and become looser as they go up the leg. This causes a gentle compression (or pressure) up the leg. The pressure keeps blood from pooling and clotting.
  
  Some drawbacks of wearing the stockings are:
  • They can be uncomfortable when worn all day.
  • They can be hot.
  • They may be difficult to put on, especially for older adults and overweight people.

Treatment Tips

Much of the treatment for deep vein thrombosis takes place at home. It is important to:

• Take medicines correctly.
• Have blood tests done as directed by your doctor.
• Avoid activities that may cause serious injury or bleeding.
• Talk to your doctor before taking anticoagulants with any other medicines, especially over-the-counter medicines, at the same time. Over-the-counter aspirin, for example, can thin your blood. Taking two medicines that thin your blood (even if one is over-the-counter) may increase your risk for excessive bleeding.
• Ask your doctor about your diet. Foods that contain vitamin K can change how well warfarin works. Vitamin K is found in green leafy vegetables and some oils, such as canola and soybean oil. It is best if you eat a well-balanced, healthy diet that doesn't vary greatly.
• Discuss with your doctor what amount of alcohol is safe for you to drink if you are taking medicine.

Reference:

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, USA.