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Pharmacology

Direct Oral Anticoagulant (DOAC)

A class of newer blood thinners that don't require routine INR monitoring.

DOACs (direct oral anticoagulants — apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, edoxaban) act on specific factors in the clotting cascade and are typically taken once or twice daily without lab monitoring.

What this means for you: DOACs have specific stop windows before surgery (usually 24-48 hours, depending on kidney function). Don't compress this window — it's the difference between a safe operation and a bleed.

General information, not medical advice

What a term means for you depends on your own reports. Ask your treating doctor, or send your reports for a free review.

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