Anticoagulants are used in medicine for prevention and treatment of conditions related to the formation of blood clots. Problems that occur with the formation of blood clots often lead to complications that can threaten the patient's life. These drugs are often used for deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, atrial fibrillation, and certain heart disorders. They function by interfering with the blood clotting mechanism, by inhibiting the formation of certain factors or hindering their action. Nowadays, there are numerous types of drugs that can be divided into three main groups: antiplatelet, anticoagulant, and fibrinolytic drugs. They are administered orally, by injection, or intravenously depending on the indication. Some of them require therapeutic drug monitoring, while others do not due to their predictable pharmacological profile. A severe side-effect of these drugs is bleeding, which is why they are contraindicated in certain patients. Despite the notable advances that have been made with the latest drugs, science is yet to find new ones that have simpler application while also reducing the harmful side-effects. Among the factors of the intrinsic coagulation pathway, a potential solution has been observed by interfering with the factors XI and XII. Thus far, there is ongoing research into these promising factors that will allow progress with the development of new potential anticoagulant drugs.