The difference between medicine and poison is minimal and often comes down to the tiniest of increases or decreases in dosage. In some cases, where the more potent pharmaceuticals are concerned, the difference between a healing and harmful dose can be frighteningly close and these medications are generally given by doctors only.
One of these is warfarin which is a blood thinner given to those who’re more at risk of blood clots. Warfarin is also well known as a potent rat poison which kills the rodents slowly by causing them to bleed out; it’s scentless and tasteless so the vermin can’t detect it. Obviously humans would never get this dosage but the drug still has risks of extra bleeding for those who take it which is why it needs to be so strictly regulated.
Arthritis patients who’ve had to have a joint replacement surgery are generally at risk of clotting and as such may be put on warfarin. Most won’t last long on the treatment as it required persistent testing to nullify the dangerous side effects which means lots of tips into hospitals, something that no one really enjoys.
Good news lies around the corner though; aspirin has been shown to have a similar if not more potent affect than warfarin on countering blood clots. Aspirin is sold so freely that its side effects are clearly not as dangerous as warfarin’s and unless you took an entire packet very quickly, you’d be very unlikely to damage yourself beyond a tummy ache. It’s easy to take and easy to get hold of, doesn’t require constant medical supervision and allows patients to get back to their lives with a minimum of fuss.
It’s only a matter of time before aspirin comes into wider use as an anti-clotting agent and if you’re a joint-replacement patient then ask your GP about its potential today!