Dicoumarol (Noun)
Meaning
An anticoagulant drug that has now been largely replaced by warfarin.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- Dicoumarol is a naturally occurring anticoagulant that can be found in certain molds that grow on sweet clover.
- In the past, dicoumarol was used to treat and prevent blood clots but it has largely been replaced by other medications such as warfarin.
- Dicoumarol was initially discovered as the active agent in spoiled sweet clover hay that caused bleeding problems in cattle.
- Dicoumarol's long half-life made it a difficult anticoagulant to control, often leading to severe side effects and the development of safer alternatives.
- Despite its decreased clinical use, dicoumarol still has historical significance in the development of anticoagulant therapy.