Can you stop blood thinners after an ablation for atrial fibrillation?

Some people with this common heart rhythm disorder may safely stop taking certain anti-clotting medications after a successful catheter ablation.

February 2, 2026

By Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter

Reviewed by Sunil Kapur, MD, Contributor

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An EKG printout with red and blue medication capsules resting on it next to a plastic hourglass with red powder inside.

studyThe New England Journal of Medicine

Atrial fibrillation (called afib for short) can cause blood to stagnate and form clots in the heart’s upper chambers (atria). Because a clot may travel to the brain and trigger a stroke (see illustration), many people with afib take anti-clotting medications, commonly known as blood thinners (see “Clot prevention for afib”).

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About the Author

Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter

Julie Corliss has been the executive editor of the Harvard Heart Letter since 2013. She also writes for the Harvard Health Letter, Harvard Women’s Health Watch, and Harvard Men’s Health Watch, as well as for Harvard … See Full Bio

View all posts by Julie Corliss

About the Reviewer

Sunil Kapur, MD, Contributor

Dr. Sunil Kapur is an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and a staff cardiologist/cardiac electrophysiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) in Boston. He completed his undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering and his … See Full Bio

View all posts by Sunil Kapur, MD

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