Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) happens when a blood clot (thrombus) forms deep inside your vein. It usually forms in your legs. But it can happen anywhere.
If DVT goes untreated, it can become life-threatening — a condition called venous thromboembolism (VTE). Your blood clots can break up inside your vein. The smaller clots can travel and block blood flow to other organs.
If you have VTE, you may get lung or heart problems. But treating your DVT can prevent medical problems.
What will treating a DVT (blood clot deep in a vein) do for you?
- It will keep your clot from growing.
- It lowers your risk for long-lasting problems, like your clot breaking up or traveling to other organs.
- It can help prevent future blood clots (another DVT).
Often, medication and taking care of yourself will do the trick. Your doctor will run tests to diagnose you. Then, they'll discuss the best treatments for your health.
What Are the Most Common DVT Treatments?
Treatment can depend on where your blood clot is and why you have one. Your doctor will help you decide on the best option. Once a DVT has formed, you'll have many therapy options. They'll keep your blood from clotting too much.
Some common treatments include:
- Blood thinners (anticoagulants) to slow down blood clotting.
- Over-the-counter medicine to thin your blood.
- Clot busters (thrombolytics) to dissolve clots.
- Medical procedures, such as filters, to prevent clots from breaking up.
- At-home treatments, such as compression stockings.
- Ongoing medications for long-term treatment.
Blood Thinners
Although they're called blood thinners, anticoagulants don't actually thin your blood. They work to slow your blood from clotting (coagulation).
These medicines stop clots from growing or help break them up. And they slow down clotting to prevent new ones. But despite their name, they can't thin out your blood. And that means they won't get rid of an existing clot.
Anticoagulants are the most common DVT treatment. Your doctor may want you to take them for three months or more. If your blood clot happens after surgery, you may only need them for a short time. But your doctor can put you on anticoagulants long-term, too.
Heparin treatments. You may start anticoagulants through an IV (in your vein) or injection. When you go to the hospital with a new blood clot (acute DVT), your doctor usually gives heparin at first. After heparin treatment, you'll need blood tests to monitor the dose.
Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH). Your doctor can also give you heparin as a shot. But you won't need blood testing because it's LMWH. It lasts longer in your bloodstream. So your doctor can better predict the right medication dose for you.
Your doctor may give you alteparin (Fragmin) or enoxaparin (Lovenox) at home. You'll get the heparin shot under your skin once or twice daily.
Warfarin treatments. You may also take warfarin (Coumadin and Jantoven) after a few days. This medicine can block your vitamin K to slow clotting. But you can take it as a pill once a day. And you can start warfarin treatment while you're still on heparin, too.
You may stay on it for 3 to 6 months, or longer. While on warfarin, you'll need regular blood tests to monitor your dose. Your doctor might also prescribe a shot of warfarin to treat serious DVT or clots stuck in your lung (pulmonary embolism).
If heparin and warfarin treatments don't work for you, you might get another treatment. These are sometimes called direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs).
Direct clotting factor Xa inhibitors. Apixaban (Eliquis), edoxaban (Lixiana, Savaysa), and rivaroxaban (Xarelto) are taken as pills. Fondaparinux (Arixtra) is another option, taken as a shot. All these anticoagulants attach and block the clotting factor protein called Xa.
They stop the protein from making DVT blood clots in your body. Some people get it to prevent DVT if they've had a hip fracture, hip replacement, knee replacement, or abdominal surgery.
Direct thrombin inhibitors. Argatroban (Acova), bivalirudin (Angiomax), and dabigatran (Pradaxa) directly attach to your thrombin protein. Normally, thrombin helps your blood clot. Without it, your blood can't clot to make a DVT.
Anticoagulant side effects. Too little won't prevent clots, and too much makes dangerous bleeding more likely. Anticoagulants can also interact with other medicines. They can change the way your medications work and vice versa. Make sure to tell your doctor about any medicines you're taking.
Vitamins and foods with a lot of vitamin K can also change your blood thickness. It's another good reason to get your blood checked often.
Tell your doctor if you're pregnant and need DVT treatments. Let your doctor know if you're pregnant. Warfarin can cause problems for your unborn baby. Tell your doctor right away if you're pregnant; they'll prescribe something else.
When to call a doctor. Make sure to take your blood thinners exactly as prescribed. This will help you avoid any potentially serious side effects. Get medical help right away if you notice that you:
- Get brown or red colored urine, bowel movements, or vomit (blood inside your body or internal bleeding)
- Bruise deeply
- Have serious headaches or stomach pain
- Get unusually heavy menstrual bleeding
If you're pregnant, ask your doctor before taking blood thinners. Certain ones can be harmful to your baby.
Over-the-Counter Medication
Some studies show taking aspirin regularly can cut your risk of having another DVT clot by one-third. And it may not increase your risk of bleeding.
But aspirin is most effective when you take it regularly, after you finish your DVT prescription from your surgery. And since aspirin therapy isn't a regular DVT treatment, talk with your doctor first.
Clot Busting
Your body will dissolve the blood clot over time. But until it goes away, it could damage the inside of your vein. Your doctor may suggest a clot-busting medicine. They are called thrombolytic agents. You'll get one if you have:
- Large clots causing pain, swelling, or circulation problems.
- A high risk for a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in your lung).
- DVT in your arm rather than your leg.
This treatment quickly breaks up your clot and restores blood flow to the area. Clot busting can save your vein valves, too. But it's riskier than taking blood thinners. Clot busting can raise your chances for bleeding problems or stroke. So, you'll go to the hospital to get it done.
Your doctor will use an X-ray to guide a thin tube (catheter) into your vein. They'll put the tip of the tube into your DVT. Then, your doctor uses the tube to send a drug directly into your clot.
If your vein seems narrow, your doctor can also widen it. This helps prevent future blockage. The procedures is called a balloon angioplasty. Your doctor may also place a mesh tube in your vein to to keep it open (stent).
Although no thrombolytic agents are approved to treat DVT, your doctor may use another one (off-label). Commonly used medications include:
- Reteplase (Retavase)
- Tenecteplase (Metalyse, TNKase)
DVT Medical Procedures
When taking blood thinners or clot-busting isn't possible, your doctor may want to try a more involved procedure.
Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter. An IVC filter is a small metal device to help stop your blood clots from moving in your veins. They look like an upside-down umbrella.
It goes in your body's main vein, your inferior vena cava (IVC). This vein runs through your belly (abdomen). It sends blood from the lower half of your body back to your heart.
Your doctor will take about an hour to put the filter in your IVC. After it's in, you can go home the same day. In the hospital, you'll get medication to help you feel sleepy and relaxed. It goes into an IV (vein in your arm).
You'll also get a shot to numb the area at the base of your neck or near your groin. This is the spot where your doctor will make a small cut after you're asleep. They'll insert a thin, flexible plastic tube (catheter ) into your vein.
Using an X-ray to guide them, your doctor will thread the filter into your vein. It will expand in place, gently attaching to the walls of your vein. After the surgery, you may need pain medicine. When it's time to go home, you'll need a friend or family member to drive you.
An IVC filter traps blood clots before they cause a pulmonary embolism (clot in your lung). It's used only to prevent pulmonary embolisms. It doesn't treat or prevent DVT.
Your doctor may suggest an IVC filter if you have DVT and you have:
- Hemorrhagic, or bleeding, stroke
- Bleeding in your digestive tract (like from a tumor, ulcer, or inflammatory bowel disease)
- Malignant hypertension (very high blood pressure)
- Bleeding in your brain (from a fall or accident)
- Recent brain, eye, or spinal cord surgery
- Pregnancy
Your doctor may also suggest getting an IVC filter if you:
- Take blood thinners, but they stop working.
- Have circulation problems called hemodynamic instability.
- Have serious injuries to your spinal cord or other organs, raising your risk for blood clots.
- Get blood clots moving from place to place (mobile thrombus).
- Have DVT in your inferior vena cava or iliac veins (veins running from your heart to your lower body and pelvis).
There are two types of IVC filters. One stays in your body permanently. The other is made to be taken out later. Your doctor may use a removable IVC filter if your risk for pulmonary embolism goes down. For example, you may be able to start taking blood thinners.
Venous thrombectomy. In very rare cases, your doctor may need to remove your deep vein clot surgically.
At-Home DVT Treatment
When you go home after DVT treatment, your goals are to get better. Try to get rest. You'll also want to stop any new blood clots from forming. Here are some tips:
Take medications as directed. After a DVT, you'll take blood thinners for at least 3 to 6 months. Your doctor will tell you exactly how long to take your medications.
If you don't understand something, ask your doctor; they can write it down for you. It varies based on your medicine. You can also ask your pharmacist for help.
You may need to take oral blood thinners for a longer time. It just depends on whether you still have a clot or not. It's important to follow your doctor's suggestions to lower your risk of getting new clots.
See your doctor often. They'll let you know if your medications are helping. If they aren't, your doctor will adjust or change your medicines. If you're taking warfarin, you'll also get a blood test to see how well your blood is clotting.
Make sure you aren't bleeding too much. This can be a side effect of blood thinners. Even a small cut can get serious when you're taking blood thinners.
Be safe. Talk to your doctor about things that can lead to bruises or cuts. Try not to bump or injure your legs. And avoid crossing your legs, too.
Stay active. Even if you've been on bed rest due to surgery or other reasons, get moving. That's a sure way to prevent more blood clots. Don't sit or stand still for more than an hour. Change positions often, especially if you're on a long trip.
Wear compression stockings. These special socks go from the arch of your foot to just below or above your knee. They can help reduce pain and swelling in your legs. Compression stocking may also prevent more clots.
You can get the socks in different levels of pressure. You can get mild ones over the counter . But you'll need to get a special fitted prescription for stronger ones. Your doctor will help you figure out which kind you need. You may need to wear the socks up to two years or more after a DVT.
Eat a healthy, low-salt diet. Salt can boost your blood pressure. Keep your sodium (salt) and cholesterol levels low to help avoid another blood clot. Ask your doctor about talking to a nutritionist. They can help make a plan for your diet.
Work on reaching your goal weight. If you're carrying extra pounds, it can put pressure on your veins --- especially your pelvis and leg veins. Talk to your doctor about setting a target weight. Take your time and work toward your goal.
Quit smoking. Smoking can affect your blood flow and circulation. Tobacco can raise your risk for another clot, too. Talk to your doctor about programs to help you quit. Even cutting down can help.
Lift up. Raise the foot of your bed 6 inches off the ground. You can use blocks, books, or special risers. You'll find these online or at home stores.
Ongoing Medication
Some people with DVT might need to take blood thinners for the rest of their lives. Your doctor will make this decision based on your risk of having another blood clot.
They'll also consider your risk for bleeding, too. Your medicine and DVT treatment will help prevent future clots. You're at a higher risk for another clot if you:
- Have a family history of clots
- Inherited or aquired a clotting disorder
- Had blood clots in the past
- Have clinical obesity
- Smoke
- Get a positive D-dimer test (your body may form more blood clots)
- Had surgery
You're also at risk for a blood clot if you don't move, take estrogen therapy, or have certain medical conditions. Some medical problems can increase your blood clot risk, such as:
- Cancer and its treatments
- Heart failure
- Inflammatory problems (like autoimmune or inflammatory bowel disease)
DVT Treatment FAQs
How long will I need to take blood thinners for DVT?
Typically, you'll take blood thinners for three months or longer. But it depends on why you have DVT and where your clot is. It also depends on your clot risk like medical conditions, genetics, or clot history.
Can blood thinners get rid of an existing clot?
Blood thinners (anticoagulants) only slow your blood from clotting. They don't actually thin your blood. So, they can't get rid of a clot that you already have. Blood thinners can prevent new clots, but they don't dissolve existing ones.
When might I need a clot-busting medicine (thrombolytic agent)?
Your doctor may suggest clot busting with a thrombolytic agent. Clot busting can help larger clots. It also helps if your clot is causing you pain, swelling, or circulation problems. Your doctor may suggest it if you're at higher risk for pulmonary embolism (clot in your lung). And if you have a DVT in your arm, clot busting can help, too.
When is surgery needed for DVT?
In very rare cases, a venous thrombectomy (cutting out the clot) may be necessary. If the blood clot threatens your life or the loss of your arm or leg, they'll do the surgery.
What is an IVC filter used for?
An IVC filter helps stop blood clots from reaching your lungs. It prevents pulmonary embolisms. The filter is placed inside your vein to trap any clots.
