Home / initial_treatment / How does fondaparinux work?

How does fondaparinux work?

Fondaparinux (Arixtra®) differs from standard heparin and LMWH in several ways. In particular, it does not come from animal sources. Instead, this drug is a synthetic version of the active site of the heparin molecule and is an even smaller molecule than LMWH. Heparin blocks both thrombin and factor Xa, whereas LMWH has relatively more activity against factor Xa and relatively less activity against thrombin. By contrast, fondaparinux acts exclusively against factor Xa—it does not affect thrombin. Fondaparinux does not require monitoring.

Current News

MyMichigan Medical Center-Midland

NBCA Designates a Michigan Hospital as First DVT Center of Excellence™ in the U.S.

NBCA is honored to announce MyMichigan Medical Center Midland as the first hospital in the U.S. to be designated a…

Get the full story »

Advent COEs

NBCA Designates Two AdventHealth Hospitals as Centers of Excellence™

The National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA) is pleased to announce the designation of AdventHealth Palm Coast and AdventHealth Palm Coast…

Get the full story »

Get more news »

Follow us on Instagram

stoptheclot

Advancing blood clot awareness, prevention, diagnosis & treatments to #stoptheclot. Submit your story @ link below ⬇️ Our podcast: Taking a Breath 🎙️

🚭 Today is World No Tobacco Day — a reminder

🚭 Today is World No Tobacco Day — a reminder that quitting smoking isn’t just good for your lungs and heart. It can also protect you from dangerous blood clots.

Smoking damages blood vessels, increases clotting factors, and raises your risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), heart attack, and stroke.

If you smoke, quitting is one of the most powerful steps you can take to protect your health.

➡️ Assess your risk for blood clots: Link in bio.

#StopTheClot #BloodClots #VTE #WorldNoTobaccoDay #BloodClotPrevention #KnowYourRisk

Kamisha developed her first DVT at age 15. Since t

Kamisha developed her first DVT at age 15. Since then, she’s lost track of how many blood clots she’s experienced — despite taking anticoagulants and having zero known risk factors.

After her most serious clotting incident in 2016 in which she was diagnosed with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), she’s raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of blood clots and urging everyone to listen to their body.

🔗More stories at the link in bio.

#StopTheClot #StopTheClotStory #DVT #PE #CTEPH #HIT #BloodClotAwareness

Did you know that people undergoing treatment for

Did you know that people undergoing treatment for cancer are at an increased risk for developing blood clots? If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, it’s important to understand your risk and speak with your doctor about blood clot prevention.

🔗Download our checklist for blood clot risk at the link in bio.

NBCA will be spotlighting the connection between cancer and blood clots at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual conference in Chicago from May 30-June 3.

If you’re attending #ASCO25, stop by and see us at patient advocacy booth 13000!

#StopTheClot #ASCO2025 #Cancer #CancerSucks #BloodClots #CancerAssociatedThrombosis #ClinicalOncology

🩸 New research shows pulmonary embolism in chil

🩸 New research shows pulmonary embolism in children may be far more common than previously believed.

A multi-center study led by Dr. Jeffrey Kline of Wayne State University and NBCA’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Board found that up to 6.3% of symptomatic pediatric ER patients were diagnosed with blood clots in the lungs, a rate similar to adults.

This groundbreaking work challenges the long-standing belief that PE is rare in kids, and could help improve early diagnosis while reducing unnecessary radiation exposure.

Published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the study is the first of its kind and signals the need for updated guidelines in pediatric clot care.

🔗 Full story: Link in bio.

🔗 NBCA resources on children and blood clots: Link in bio.

#StopTheClot #BloodClots #VTE #VTEInChildren #BloodClotsAndChildren #PediatricVTE

🩸 Finding your way forward after a blood clot d

🩸 Finding your way forward after a blood clot diagnosis can feel overwhelming, but guidance is here.

Join us on June 10 at 7 p.m. ET for a special PEP Talk for those newly diagnosed with DVT, PE, or other clotting conditions and their loved ones.

We’ll cover what to expect during your recovery, how to navigate treatment, and where to find the support you need, all in a safe, understanding space.

📅 When: Tuesday, June 10 at 7 p.m. ET
🔗Register: bit.ly/June2025PEPTalk (link in bio!)

#StopTheClot #BloodClots #VTE #PEPTalk #BloodClotPatient #BloodClotSupportGroup #BloodClotAwareness #BloodClotWebinar

At just 7 years old, Jason developed a blood clot

At just 7 years old, Jason developed a blood clot in his brain following a neck injury during a soccer game. Despite multiple ER visits, the clot went undiagnosed for months.

By the time it was found, Jason was already living with quadriplegia.

As National Stroke Awareness Month comes to a close, Jason’s mom Faye shares their story to raise awareness about how blood clots in children are often missed, and how an early diagnosis can change everything.

🔗More about blood clots and children at the link in bio.

#StopTheClot #StopTheClotStory #BloodClots #NationalStrokeAwarenessMonth #BloodClotAwareness #BasilarArteryThrombosis

One night after delivering her second child, Heath

One night after delivering her second child, Heather experienced the worst headache of her life. She was eventually diagnosed with a blood clot in the brain, or cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST).

After treatment and recovery, she thought blood clots were behind her, but she developed blood clots in her lungs years later.

Heather, who serves as an NBCA Community Thrombassador, told her story during our May PEP Talk on women and blood clots in recognition of Women’s Health Month. Pregnancy and postpartum are risk factors for blood clots, and quick action can be lifesaving.

🔗If you missed the live session, you can watch it at the link in bio.

Register for our June PEP Talk on navigating a new blood clot diagnosis at the 🔗 in bio.

#StopTheClot #WomensHealthMonth #BloodClots #Pregnancy #Postpartum #FourthTrimester #KnowYourRisk #PulmonaryEmbolism #BloodClotAwareness

While heading to a festival, Courtney suddenly cou

While heading to a festival, Courtney suddenly couldn’t breathe and nearly passed out. At the hospital, scans showed multiple blood clots in her lungs.

Now diagnosed with factor V Leiden, Courtney shares her story to make sure others don’t miss the warning signs. Get our New Patient Resource Guide at the link in bio.

#StopTheClot #StopTheClotStory #BloodClots #FactorVLeiden #PulmonaryEmbolism #BloodClotAwareness

🩸 Blood does a lot more than most of us realize

🩸 Blood does a lot more than most of us realize — it delivers oxygen, fights infections, regulates temperature, and helps control bleeding.

But when something goes wrong, like with a clotting disorder, it can put your health at serious risk.

A recent Everyday Health article breaks down what blood disorders are and how they affect your body. It also links to NBCA as a recommended organization that provides support and education for people living with clotting disorders.

Thank you, @EverydayHealth, for this informative article and helping to spread awareness!

Read it at the 🔗in bio.

#StopTheClot #BloodClots #BloodDisorders #BloodClotAwareness #Thrombophilia #BloodClottingDisorder #AntithrombinDeficiency #ATIII #ProteinCDeficiency #ProteinSDeficiency #APS #Prothrombin

✈️ Memorial Day Weekend marks the start of sum

✈️ Memorial Day Weekend marks the start of summer travel season, but long hours sitting in cars or airplanes can raise your risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), especially if you have a history of blood clots.

Cramped seats, dehydration, and prolonged inactivity can slow circulation and create conditions for a clot to form, sometimes called "economy class syndrome."

Stay safe with these tips:

🔹 Stand up and move every hour

🔹 Do simple leg and foot stretches in your seat

🔹 Stay hydrated (skip the caffeine and alcohol)

🔹 Avoid crossing your legs

🔹 Wear loose clothing and consider a medical ID if you're at higher risk

🔹Know the signs of a blood clot and seek medical care if symptoms appear.

Learn more at the 🔗 in bio.

#stoptheclot #bloodclots #economyclasssyndrome #travelsafety #summertravel #bloodclotprevention #dvtprevention #bloodclotawareness

💔 Angela passed suddenly in September 2024, jus

💔 Angela passed suddenly in September 2024, just 1.5 hours after arriving at the ER. Doctors found massive blood clots in her lungs.

Angela’s daughter Mallery will carry her memory forward always. Please know the signs. Blood clots can take a life in moments.

More stories at the 🔗 in bio.

#StopTheClot #StopTheClotStory #BloodClots #PulmonaryEmbolism #PE #FatalPE #BloodClotAwareness #BloodClotFatality

🎙️ New Episode Alert! 🎙️ Season 2, Epis

🎙️ New Episode Alert! 🎙️

Season 2, Episode 9 of Taking a Breath: A Stop the Clot podcast is now available on all major podcast platforms.

In this episode, listeners hear from Lauren Brzozowski, Olympic hopeful for Team USA bobsled. She was in Switzerland with her team when she broke her foot.

This injury, combined with long days of travel, resulted in a DVT that put her career on pause. Lauren shares how she got through this with support from her family and her fans.

“Injury is the worst part about being an athlete. It’s such an attack on your identity,” Lauren said. “People don’t realize how much of a mental strain this is. If we didn’t catch it sooner, I could have died.”

Thank you, Lauren, for sharing your story and spreading awareness. Listen at the 🔗 in bio or wherever you get your podcasts: https://www.stoptheclot.org/stop-the-clot-podcast/

@zozzy7

#StopTheClot #BloodClots #PE #PulmonaryEmbolism #VTE #TakingABreath #BloodClotPodcast #BloodClotSurvivorStory #Bobsled #AthletesAndBloodClots #TeamUSA

When you're newly diagnosed with a blood clot, it'

When you're newly diagnosed with a blood clot, it's easy to feel lost. We're here to help you find your footing.

Join us on Tuesday, June 10 at 7 p.m. ET for a special PEP Talk for the newly diagnosed — the second in our quarterly series created to support people at the beginning of their recovery journey.

Inspired by the safe, encouraging space of our Facebook Support Group, this session will offer guidance, resources, and community to help you regain control of your health, physically and mentally.

Diane Wirth, nurse practitioner and a member of NBCA’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Board, serves as our medical expert.

We hope to see you there! 📅 Register at the link in bio.

📣 If you know anyone who would benefit from this PEP Talk, please share it with them! 📣

#StopTheClot #BloodClots #VTE #PEPTalk #BloodClotPatient #BloodClotDiagnosis #BloodClotSupportGroup #BloodClotAwareness #BloodClotWebinar

🏃‍♀️While training for a marathon, Melisa

🏃‍♀️While training for a marathon, Melisa thought her leg pain was a calf strain — but it turned out to be a massive DVT caused by estrogen birth control and May-Thurner syndrome.

After treatment and recovery, she’s back to running and training for a half marathon. Her advice: always advocate for yourself. 🔗More stories at the link in bio.

#StopTheClot #StopTheClotStory #BloodClots #DVT #Estrogen #DeepVeinThrombosis #BloodClotAwareness #BirthControl #MTS #MayThurnerSyndrome #Veteran #Veterans #ThankYouVeterans #SupportOurVeterans #VeteransSupport

🔬Today is International Clinical Trials Day, es

🔬Today is International Clinical Trials Day, established to recognize the researchers, clinicians, and especially the volunteers who make medical progress possible.

Clinical trials have transformed how we prevent and treat blood clots — from developing safer anticoagulants to improving care strategies for high-risk patients. Every advancement starts with someone who says “yes” to research.

If you're interested in participating in a clinical trial, it’s important to know that trials happen in four distinct phases, each designed to answer specific questions and involve different types of participants, from healthy volunteers to people living with the condition being studied.

Want to learn more or explore current trials? Visit the 🔗 in bio!

#stoptheclot #clinicaltrials #bloodclotresearch #vteresearch #bloodclots #bloodclottingdisorders #thrombophilia #bloodclotawareness #bloodclotpatient

We're proud to announce MyMichigan Medical Center

We're proud to announce MyMichigan Medical Center Midland as the first hospital in the U.S. to be designated an NBCA DVT Center of Excellence™!

This designation recognizes MyMichigan’s commitment to proactive, patient-centered DVT care, setting a new national standard in blood clot prevention and treatment.

Dr. Jacob Frisbie, vascular surgeon and VTE champion at MyMichigan, said: “This validates our team’s focus on timely intervention, the right treatment, and long-term support.”

Early diagnosis and treatment of DVT are critical. When caught early, DVT can be effectively treated, preventing it from progressing into a pulmonary embolism (PE) –- a potentially fatal condition. This designation represents a significant step in ensuring that patients receive the timely care they need to reduce complications and improve outcomes.

Congratulations to the team in Midland for this well-deserved distinction! 👏

@mymichiganhealth

Learn more at the link in bio!

#StopTheClot #BloodClots #VTE #VTECentersOfExcellence #CentersOfExcellence #COE #HospitalExcellence #BloodClotAwareness

Many women who’ve had a blood clot are told they

Many women who’ve had a blood clot are told they can never use estrogen-based birth control — but that’s not always true.

In this clip from our May PEP Talk on women and blood clots, Dr. Anna Parks, hematologist at the University of Utah and a member of NBCA’s Council of Emerging Researchers in Thrombosis, explains why this is a common misconception. While estrogen *can* increase the clotting risk, automatically ruling it out without a full discussion often leaves women with few or no options.

As a result, many women on blood thinners are left to cope with heavy, unmanaged menstrual bleeding — or, face the possibility of an unintended pregnancy. And pregnancy itself is a major clotting risk.

Dr. Parks breaks down what women need to know about hormonal birth control, bleeding management, and how to have informed conversations with their healthcare providers.

If you missed the live session, the full recording is now available at the PEP Talk 🔗 in bio.

#StopTheClot #BloodClots #WomenAndBloodClots #KnowYourRisk #PEPTalk #MedicalGaslighting #BloodClotAwareness #BloodClotWebinar

With Men’s Health Month just weeks away, now is

With Men’s Health Month just weeks away, now is the time to talk about health risks men often overlook, like the connection between prostate cancer and blood clots.

Men with prostate cancer have a 50% higher risk of developing dangerous blood clots, especially in the first six months after diagnosis. Treatments like surgery and hormone therapy can increase this risk — even more so for those with a prior history of blood clots.

Former President Joe Biden, recently diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer, had a DVT in 1988. His experience underscores the importance of understanding all your health risks, especially when multiple factors are in play.

This Men’s Health Month, encourage the men in your life to get screened, know their family and personal history, and talk to their doctor about prevention.

In Season 2, episode 3 of Taking a Breath: A Stop the Clot Podcast, Michael Philbin, a prostate cancer survivor, discusses how he navigated both prostate cancer and blood clots. Listen at the link in bio or wherever you get your podcasts.

#StopTheClot #ProstateCancer #BloodClots #VTE #CancerAndClots #KnowYourRisk #BloodClotAwareness #BloodClotEducation

After giving birth to twins by C-section, Kacey re

After giving birth to twins by C-section, Kacey restarted birth control. A few months later, her leg became swollen and discolored.

She was sent home from the ER with a diagnosis of muscle strain, but the next day, she could barely breathe.

Now recovered from a DVT and PE, Kacey shares this advice: “Always listen to your body and advocate for yourself because your life depends on it.” 👉Swipe through to read her full story.

🔗More patient stories: Link inn bio.

🎶 Volunteers Who Rock! 🎶 At the National Bl

🎶 Volunteers Who Rock! 🎶

At the National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA), our volunteers are making a difference in fun and innovative ways! One of our incredible Thrombassador volunteers, Jill Cowley, is hosting a music festival next month to help support our mission. Talk about a note-worthy event! 🎸✨

This festival isn’t just about great music; it’s about coming together to spread vital awareness about the risks, signs and symptoms of blood clots in memory of Jill's cousin, Chandra, who passed away from a pulmonary embolism. We love seeing how our volunteers come up with such creative and meaningful ways to spread the word and give back.

#StopTheClot #RememberChandra #Thrombassador #DVT #PE #BloodClots #BloodClotAwareness #VolunteerForChange #MusicForAwareness #NBCA #BloodClotAwareness #VolunteerInspiration #RockOnForClots #CreativeImpact

From music festivals to lemonade stands, you can make an impact no matter your passion.
Have an idea? You could be the next volunteer to take action and make a difference! 🙌

If you’re in the upstate New York area, join us for an unforgettable day of music, food, and fun—all for a great cause! 🎤🎉

📍 Location: Dominick’s Tavern, Oswego, NY
📅 Date: Saturday, June 21
⏰ Time: 2:00 PM ET

💬 How could help bring important blood clot education to YOUR community? Drop a comment below and let us know how you might get involved! Let’s work together to reduce the impact of blood clots—one community at a time.

Load More Follow on Instagram