What is Warfarin?
Warfarin is used to prevent blood clots from forming or growing larger in your blood and blood vessels. It is prescribed for people with certain types of irregular heartbeat, people with prosthetic (replacement or mechanical) heart valves, and people who have suffered a heart attack. Warfarin is also used to treat or prevent venous thrombosis (swelling and blood clot in a vein) and pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lung). Warfarin is in a class of medications called anticoagulants ('blo...
Brand Name
Coumadi
Other Names
What is Warfarin?
Warfarin is used to prevent blood clots from forming or growing larger in your blood and blood vessels. It is prescribed for people with certain types of irregular heartbeat, people with prosthetic (replacement or mechanical) heart valves, and people who have suffered a heart attack. Warfarin is also used to treat or prevent venous thrombosis (swelling and blood clot in a vein) and pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lung). Warfarin is in a class of medications called anticoagulants ('blood thinners'). It works by decreasing the clotting ability of the blood.
How
Continue to take warfarin even if you feel well. Do not stop taking warfarin without talking to your doctor.
Side Effects
change in the way things tastetirednesspale skinloss of hairfeeling cold or having chillsWarfarin may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
Precautions
Before taking warfarin,tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to warfarin or any other medications.do not take two or more medications that contain warfarin at the same time. Be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are uncertain if a medication contains warfarin or warfarin sodium.tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are taking or plan to take, especially antibiotics; aspirin or aspirin-containing products and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn); heparin; medications for cancer, cholesterol, colds and allergies, depression, diabetes, digestive problems (including ulcers and heartburn), gout, heart disease, mental illness, pain,seizures, thyroid problems, and tuberculosis; oral contraceptives (birth control pills); streptokinase; ticlopidine; or urokinase. Many other medications may also interact with warfarin, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list. Do not take any new medications or stop taking any medication without talking to your doctor.tell your doctor and pharmacist what herbal or botanical products you are taking, especially bromelains, coenzyme Q10 (Ubidecarenone), cranberry products, danshen, dong quai, garlic, Ginkgo biloba, ginseng, and St. John's wort. There are many other herbal or botanical products which might affect your body's response to warfarin. Do not start or stop taking any herbal products without talking to your doctor.tell your doctor if you have or have ever had a thyroid condition or diabetes. Also tell your doctor if you have an infection, a gastrointestinal illness such as diarrhea, or sprue (an allergic reaction to protein found in grains that causes diarrhea), or an indwelling catheter (a flexible plastic tube that is placed into the bladder to allow the urine to drain out).Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant, or plan to become pregnant while taking warfarin. You should not take warfarin if you are pregnant. Talk to your doctor about the use of effective birth control while taking warfarin. If you become pregnant while taking warfarin, call your doctor immediately. Warfarin may harm the fetus.tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, or any type of medical or dental procedure, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking warfarin. Your doctor may tell you to stop taking warfarin before the surgery or procedure or change your dosage of warfarin before the surgery or procedure. Follow your doctor's directions carefully and keep all appointments with the laboratory if your doctor orders blood tests to find the best dose of warfarin for you.tell your doctor if you drink or have ever drunk large amounts of alcohol. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take warfarin. Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking this medication.If you are going to receive an immunization, such as a flu shot, or any other injection into a muscle, tell the health care professional that you are taking warfarin.
Overdose
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
bloody or red, or tarry bowel movementsspitting or coughing up bloodheavy bleeding with your menstrual periodpink, red, or dark brown urinecoughing up or vomiting material that looks like coffee groundssmall, flat, round red spots under the skin unusual bruising or bleedingcontinued oozing or bleeding from minor cuts
What If I Forget
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it, if it is the same day that you were to take the dose. Do not take a double dose the next day to make up for a missed one. Talk to your doctor if you miss a dose of warfarin.
Storage
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat, moisture (not in the bathroom), and light. Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.
Dietary Restrictions
Tell your doctor if you drink nutritional supplements or receive supplements by a feeding tube.
Miscellaneous
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
Other Uses
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
The AHFS MedMaster Consumer Medication Information CMI® database is copyrighted by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. © 2008, ASHP, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. All Rights Reserved. Duplication must be expressly authorized by ASHP, unless such duplication consists of printing or downloading portions of the data inherent in the program for non-commercial use. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. represents that the database provided hereunder was formulated with a reasonable standard of care, and in conformity with professional standards in the field. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, any implied warranty of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose, with respect to such database and specifically disclaims all such warranties and representations. Users are advised that decisions regarding drug therapy are complex medical decisions requiring the independent, informed decision of an appropriate health care professional, and the database is provided for informational purposes only. The entire monograph for a drug should be reviewed for a thorough understanding of the drug's actions, uses and side effects. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. does not endorse or recommend the use of any drug in the database. The information contained in the database is not a substitute for medical care.
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