Coumadin, the brand name for warfarin, thins blood and makes it less likely to clot. This reduces the risk of blood clots developing in blood vessels. Doctors prescribe anticoagulants like Coumadin for people likely to form blood clots in the heart, such as those with irregular heartbeats, people who have artificial valves in their heart and people who have had a previous heart attack. Coumadin is also prescribed to treat or prevent clots from forming in other parts of the body, such as the legs or lungs. Because Coumadin makes blood less likely to clot, it can have severe side effects.
Types of Side Effects
Side effects of Coumadin include increased bleeding from cuts or injuries and easy bruising or skin discoloration that occur spontaneously or after minor injury. Bleeding can also occur inside the body, where it can't be easily seen.
Significance
Internal bleeding can damage any organ and lead to life-threatening hemorrhage. Bleeding inside the head, intracranial bleeding, carries a higher risk of death and long-term complications than bleeding outside the head, Drugs.com states. Complications occur more often in people over 65 and in the first few weeks of therapy, the National Institutes of Health states. People on higher dose of Coumadin and those who take the drug for a long time also have an increased rate of problems.
Identification
Blood in the urine or stool, coughing up blood, heavy nosebleeds or bleeding from the gums can indicate that Coumadin is causing blood to become too thin and that possible internal bleeding is occuring. Pain in the joints or muscles, chest pain, headaches and difficulty breathing can also indicate internal hemorrhage. Feeling dizzy, confusion, pallor or collapse can indicate serious internal bleeding. Any sign of internal bleeding or visible bleeding that doesn't stop within a few minutes with pressure requires immediate medical attention.
Treatment
If severe bleeding occurs, seek medical help immediately. The effects of Coumadin last two to five days after stopping the medication, according to the National Institutes of Health. Doses should never be changed without medical direction.
Prevention
People on Coumadin require regular monitoring of blood levels, specifically prothrombin time and INR, or international normalized ratio levels, which assess the amount of time blood takes to clot. Because Coumadin thins the blood, clotting times are normally prolonged compared to blood levels seen in people not on blood thinners. This is not considered an abnormality but rather a desired effect. Doses should be taken at the same time each day; doses should never be doubled up, even if the previous dose was missed, the Cleveland Clinic warns. Around one third of people taking Coumadin are more likely to have side effects because of a genetic sensitivity to the drug, which testing can determine, MayoCinic.com suggests.
