Final answer:
In cases of pulmonary thrombosis, thrombolytic agents like tissue plasminogen activator are used to break down clots, and anticoagulants such as warfarin, heparin, and newer agents like rivaroxaban are prescribed to prevent further clotting.
Step-by-step explanation:
For pulmonary thrombosis, which is the formation of a clot in the blood vessels of the lungs, the class of medications commonly given to dissolve the clot is thrombolytic agents. These agents work by breaking down the abnormal clot quickly. The most known thrombolytic agent is tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), which activates the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin, the main enzyme involved in clot breakdown. This treatment is particularly effective if administered within 3 hours of a thrombotic event, such as a stroke.
It is essential, however, to differentiate a thrombotic stroke from a hemorrhagic one, as the treatments differ significantly. For prevention of further clotting events, anticoagulants like warfarin (Coumadin), heparin, rivaroxaban (Xarelto), dabigatran (Pradaxa), and apixaban (Eliquis) are often prescribed. These help prevent new clots from forming and existing clots from enlarging.