What anticoagulant is commonly used to prevent blood clots?

Warfarin is widely used as an anticoagulant for the prevention of blood clots, particularly in patients with conditions like atrial fibrillation, deep vein thrombosis, and those who have experienced a previous stroke or transient ischemic attack. It acts by inhibiting vitamin K-dependent clotting factors, which are essential for the blood coagulation process. Due to its mechanism of action, it is effective at reducing the risk of thromboembolic events in at-risk populations.

While other options listed are also anticoagulants, they are used in different contexts or have different mechanisms. Enoxaparin is a low molecular weight heparin that is typically utilized for short-term prevention and treatment of specific thromboembolic disorders. Heparin, which can be either low molecular weight or unfractionated, is usually administered in a hospital setting for acute situations. Fondaparinux is a synthetic anticoagulant that is also used for similar indications as enoxaparin but has a different mechanism. Each of these anticoagulants has specific clinical use cases, and while they are effective, Warfarin's long history and established guidelines for chronic anticoagulation make it a classic choice for the prevention of blood clots in many outpatient