A class of medications used to dissolve blood clots that have formed in blood vessels. Thrombolytics work by activating the body’s natural clot-dissolving system, breaking down fibrin (the protein that stabilizes clots). They are most commonly used in emergency situations to restore blood flow and limit damage caused by conditions such as heart attacks (myocardial infarction), ischemic strokes, and pulmonary embolism. Because they carry a risk of serious bleeding, their use is carefully timed and restricted to specific cases.
