Hemostatic Dressings for Blood Thinner Patients
Made for people on warfarin, apixaban (Eliquis), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), dabigatran (Pradaxa), or daily aspirin. Chitosan and calcium alginate options that work even when your body has trouble clotting on its own.
FDA reviewed and cleared
For OTC use without a prescription.
U.S. Military chitosan
Same technology trusted by US troops.
Made for harder bleeds
For people who normally have trouble stopping bleeding.
No prescription needed
Stock at home — no doctor visit required.
Why small cuts take longer to stop when you're on a blood thinner
Blood thinners (anticoagulants and antiplatelets) lengthen the time it takes for your blood to form a clot. They do not actually thin your blood. The trade-off is real and worth it for stroke and clot prevention, but it means everyday nuisance bleeding — the small cut, the bleeding gums, the bruise that blooms purple — lasts longer and is more inconvenient.
The fix is not a regular Band-Aid. The fix is a hemostatic dressing that actively helps stop bleeding rather than just absorbing it. AllaQuix® chitosan and calcium alginate dressings are made for people who normally have trouble stopping bleeding, and that includes anyone on a blood thinner.
What to keep in your kit
- AllaQuix® High-Performance 2×2 for finger and shaving nicks
- AllaQuix® High-Performance 4×4 for kitchen cuts and larger bleeds
- AllaQuix® Lite 4×4 calcium alginate for moderate cuts
- AllaQuix® Bandages (Large and Small) for daily nuisance bleeds
- An updated medication list in your wallet or alert ID
BUILT FOR THIS SITUATION
The three products to keep on hand
FOR HARDER BLEEDS
AllaQuix® High-Performance
Chitosan hemostatic gauze. Same technology used by the U.S. Military. Works independently of the clotting cascade.
Best for: harder bleeds, kitchen cuts, post-procedure
FOR MODERATE BLEEDS
AllaQuix® Lite
Calcium alginate dressing. Absorbs up to 20× its weight. Dual mechanism of action. Hypoallergenic.
Best for: moderately draining wounds, sensitive skin
FOR EVERYDAY BLEEDS
AllaQuix® Bandages
Calcium alginate adhesive bandages. Same material and mechanism as Lite, sized for everyday cuts. Available in Large and Small.
Best for: daily nuisance bleeding, gum bleeds
HOW TO STOP A NUISANCE BLEED
Four steps that work on blood thinners
Apply firm, steady pressure
Press a clean cloth, gauze, or shirt firmly over the wound for at least 5 to 10 minutes without lifting to check.
Add a hemostatic dressing
If the bleed is slow to stop, place AllaQuix® High-Performance or Lite directly on the wound and reapply pressure.
Cover and elevate
Once bleeding stops, cover with an AllaQuix® Bandage and raise the limb above heart level when you can.
Call your doctor when needed
If a wound keeps bleeding after 15 minutes of steady pressure, or if it spurts, call your doctor or 911.
FAQ
Common questions
What's the best wound dressing for someone on blood thinners?
A hemostatic dressing, not a regular Band-Aid. For harder bleeds, AllaQuix® High-Performance chitosan gauze works independently of your clotting cascade and is made for people on blood thinners. For moderate cuts and bleeding gums, AllaQuix® Lite calcium alginate is gentler. For everyday cuts, AllaQuix® Bandages — the same calcium alginate in an adhesive bandage format — are the at-home equivalent of a Band-Aid built for blood thinner patients.
Can I use regular Band-Aids on blood thinners?
You can, but a regular Band-Aid only absorbs and covers — it doesn't help the bleeding stop. On a blood thinner, a small cut can keep seeping under a standard bandage. A hemostatic dressing like AllaQuix® High-Performance (chitosan) or an AllaQuix® Bandage (calcium alginate) actively helps the wound seal, so it's a better everyday choice for anyone on warfarin, Eliquis, Xarelto, Pradaxa, or daily aspirin.
Does AllaQuix® work for people on warfarin, Eliquis, Xarelto, or Pradaxa?
Yes. AllaQuix® is made for people who normally have trouble stopping bleeding, which includes people on anticoagulants and antiplatelets. AllaQuix® High-Performance chitosan gauze works mechanically — independently of the clotting cascade — so it does not depend on the part of clotting your medication slows down. It is for minor topical bleeding only, not emergencies.
How long should I press on a cut if I'm on blood thinners?
Apply firm, steady pressure for at least 5 to 10 minutes without lifting to check. People on blood thinners often need the full 10 minutes or longer. If the bleed is slow to stop, place an AllaQuix® dressing directly on the wound and keep pressing. Call your doctor or 911 if a wound is still bleeding after 15 minutes of steady pressure or if it spurts.
What is nuisance bleeding and is it dangerous?
Nuisance bleeding is the everyday minor bleeding — small cuts, bleeding gums, easy bruising — that lasts longer when you're on a blood thinner. It's usually not dangerous, but it's inconvenient and can be alarming. Keeping the right dressings on hand makes it easier to manage. Bleeding that won't stop, or that comes from a deep or spurting wound, is not nuisance bleeding and needs medical care.
Will my doctor want me to stop my blood thinner before a small procedure?
That's a decision only your prescribing doctor can make, and it depends on the procedure and your clot risk. Never stop or change a blood thinner on your own. This page is patient education, not medical advice — talk to your doctor about any procedure.
Try AllaQuix® before you buy
Not for emergency, arterial, or severe bleeding. Patient education, not medical advice.
EXPLORE OTHER SITUATIONS
Find your situation
Saint Paul, Minnesota · Made in USA
FDA reviewed and cleared. Nearly one million AllaQuix® sold.