DISCLAIMER: I understand that any medical advice received on the boards is not necessarily from a medical professional.
My wife is on Coumadin for some pulmonary emboli she had last year. Whenever she gets a small cut, it bleeds for a long time. Would using a styptic pencil help? Is there any potential danger in using a styptic pencil? TIA!
–FCOD
IANAD, but I wouldn’t think there would be any problem. Styptic pencils are usually just alum, and work by constricting the blood vessels at the site of the cut. Alum is a coagulant, but it is being used topically rather than systemically. Of course, you could just call your doctor’s office and ask the nurse…
I’ve used chemical cautery to stop superficial bleeding in many of my patients on anti-coagulants. Silver Nitrate sticks are my preferred method, but I’d not hesitate to employ styptic pencils at need.
My mother was on Coumadin, and carried a styptic pencil in her purse. She actually used in on a few occasions, and there was no problem.
So glad QtM rolled in. I was just thinking I didn’t know the answer to this at all.
Some of my patients are (more precisely have been) on Coumadin, but I just let 'em bleed until they stop.
Thanks everyone!
–FCOD
As I often tell my technicians, “All bleeding stops.”.
Perhaps you are part vampire on top of everything else? 
Seriously, don’t the autopsy tables have grooves and drains to remove the bodily fluids (every time I hear that phrase I can’t help but think of Dr Stranglove.