Serious Side Effects Of Blood Thinners

Vomiting Blood

Vomiting blood is a sign of serious internal bleeding, and patients with this symptom need to seek emergency medical attention. When blood is present in vomit, it may take on a black or dark brown color similar to coffee grounds. It could also be bright red, and patients might cough up tiny flecks of blood. Once at the emergency room, doctors will do a complete evaluation to determine the cause of this symptom, and the patient must inform staff they are taking blood thinners. It can be helpful to let staff know how long the vomiting has been happening and when the blood was first noticed. Imaging studies may be performed to check for signs of internal bleeding, and patients might need surgery to correct this. Vomiting blood may cause the patient to go into shock, which can produce additional symptoms such as dizziness upon standing, as well as shallow and rapid breathing. Patients should be taken to an emergency room by ambulance in this case.