Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

Deep vein thrombosis or DVT is a blood clot that forms, usually in the a deep (as opposed to a superficial) vein in the calf area of the leg. They can be very painful and may cause the leg(s) to swell. Sometimes the clot can get dislodged from the vein and travel in the blood stream to other locations in the body. In particular, if it gets into the lungs it can cause severe pain and may even lead to cardiac arrest. Usually though, deep vein thrombosis is not a life-threatening condition.

Taking the medications listed below are not things that can put one at risk of developing a DVT, other risk factors include:

• Pregnancy (even higher risk if placed on bed rest)
• People over the age of 40 who don't exercise regularly
• Having suffered a spinal cord injury
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Long distance traveling, especially on planes

Okay, okay, it's not all doom and gloom. There are some things you can do to try to prevent having a deep vein thrombosis. Try to:

• Get moving!: try to stay active, in particular, walking helps to circulate the blood and it can also help you lose weight. See there? You just reduced two risk factors with one fun activity!
• Quit smoking: not much else to say on this point. You just need to do it. There are medications that can help and support groups help to increase your chances of success.
• Practice travel fitness: when on long plane or car trips be sure to stay mobile. On planes you can stand up and walk around (well, back and forth anyway), on car trips you can make frequent "pit stops" but if these are not convenient for you to do then at least you should try to do some calf exercises in your seat at least hourly. Avoid alcohol also and stay well hydrated by drinking lots of fluids.

Drugs That Can Cause Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

• Birth Control Pills
• Hormone (Estrogen) Replacement Therapy

Birth Control Pills

• Alesse 28
• Angeliq
• Apri
• Brevicon
• Cesia
• Desogen
• Estrostep Fe
• Gildess Fe
• Junel & Junel Fe
• Kelnor
• Leena
• LevliteLevora
• Lo/Ovral
• Low Ogestrel
• Lybrel
• Modicon
• Nordette
• Norinyl
• Nortrel
• Nuvaring
• Ortho-CeptOrtho Cyclen
• Ortho Evra
• Ortho-Novum
• Ortho Tri-Cyclen & Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo
• Ovcon
• Reclipsen
• Seasonale
• Seasonique
• Sronyx
• Tri-Norinyl
• Triphasil
• Trivora
• Yasmin
• Yaz
• Zovia

PS: this is not an exhaustive list of all the birth control pills that can cause DVTs.

Hormone (Estrogen) Replacement Therapy

• Conjugated estrogens (Premarin)
• Esterified estrogens (Menest)
• Estradiol & Estradiol combination drugs (Activella, Climara, ClimaraPro, Combipatch, Delestrogen, Divigel, Estrace, Estraderm, Estrasorb, Estring, Estrogel, Evamist, Femring, Femtrace, Innofem, Prefest, Vagifem, Vivelle, Vivelle Dot)

Other Medications

People shouldn't complain about the price of medicine;
even the latest wonder drugs cost no more than
the cheapest yacht.



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June 27, 2009

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