Generic name: Warfarin
Brand names: Warfarin, Jantoven, Coumadin, Lawarin, Marevan and Waran
General Information:
Coumadin is an oral anticoagulant that inhibits the synthesis of clotting factors, thus preventing blood clot formation.
Your doctor may prescribe this remedy for other purposes. Contact your physician if you need to learn more information about this drug.
Don’t stop treatment with Coumadin earlier than it was prescribed by your doctor even if you notice improvements of your condition. Stopping the medication too early may worsen your condition. Be careful about doing dangerous tasks, driving, operating machinery or climbing until you are aware how this drug affects you. Don’t drink alcohol. Always contact a medic before giving Coumadin to a child.
What symptoms or conditions should I report to a doctor before I take this medicine?
It is important to report to a doctor if you have or had the following conditions:
- kidney problems
- liver problems
- heart or blood vessel diseases
- history of angioedema
- diabetes
- allergy to Coumadin, other dyes, preservatives, foods or medicines
- pregnancy, breast-feeding and trying to get pregnant
How do I take this medicine?
Note: This remedy was prescribed to you only. Don’t share this medicament with others. Follow strictly your doctor’s recommendations. Don’t take more or longer than your doctor recommended.
This medication is taken with or without food. In patients with kidney and liver dysfunction, dosages will be lowered. Take the doses on the rigid schedule. Avoid taking your medicament more often than prescribed.
If your doctor wants you to stop the drug, the doses will be gradually reduced in the course of time to avoid any side effects.
Overdosage:
Taking any medicine in large doses you can have serious consequences for your health. If you feel an overdose, contact your health care professional instantly.
In large doses, this remedy may cause the following conditions: bleeding gums, nosebleeds, heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged bleeding from cuts, and bruising.
If you forget about a dose:
In case you forget about the dose, try to take it as soon as possible. If the time for the next dose has come, take only that dose. Do not take excessive or extra doses.
Interactions:
- aspirin
- acetaminophen (Tylenol and others)
- alcohol
- ibuprofen (Motrin)
- cimetidine (Tagamet)
- oxandrolone (Oxandrin)
- certain vitamins
- antibiotics
This list of interactions may be not complete. Provide your medical practitioners entire list of medicines, herbs, dietary supplements or non-prescription drugs you take. Moreover tell them whether you drink alcohol, use illegal drugs or smoke. Particular items may interact with your drug.
Which side effects can I perceive from this remedy?
Contact your physician immediately if you notice any of the following serious side effects:
- bleeding in the joints can cause joint pain and swelling
- bleeding in the kidneys can cause back pain and blood in urine.
- bleeding around the brain can cause severe headache and paralysis
- bleeding and necrosis (gangrene) of the skin
- bleeding in the stomach or intestines can cause fainting spells, weakness, vomiting of blood, or coffee ground material, black tarry stools
Side effects that generally don’t need medical awareness (advise your medic if they persist or are troubling):
- bloating, diarrhea
- rash
- purple, painful toes
- jaundice (yellowing of eyes and skin)
- hair loss
This list of side effects may be not complete, others may occur. Inform your medical practitioners about all side effects you experience.
What do I have to know while using this medication?
Use effective contraception during treatment. Contact your physician immediately if you get pregnant during pregnancy.
After you stop treatment with warfarin, it takes several days before your body recovers its normal ability to clot blood. Contact your doctor for more details.
Your doctor or dentist should know that you are taking warafin if you are going to have surgery or dental care.
It is important to discuss your diet with your physician. He might limit your intake of foods with vitamin K.
Avoid any activity that might cause injury during treatment with warfarin. Be careful with sharp tools or knives. You need to be very careful brushing or flossing your teeth.
Carry an identification card with your personal information while you are taking warfarin.
Visit your physician regularly to monitor your progress. You may need to have your blood tested regularly. Contact your physician for more details.
Don’t change brands of warfarin without your doctor’s recommendations.
Please be attentive: always check the color of your medicine when you get a new prescription. If you notice a change in the color of your warfarin tablet, check with your physician to make sure you received the correct medicine.
Don’t take any prescription and non-prescription pills without talking to your doctor first. Don’t take any aspirin-containing products, such as naprosyn (Aleve), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin), ketoprofen (Orudis-KT) or other medicines known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents without consulting your physician first.
Storage:
Coumadin should be stored at room temperature, between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F), in a tightly closed container. Protect from moisture, direct heat, and light. Do not store in the bathroom or near a sink. Keep Coumadin out of the reach of children and away from animals.
Warning: Before taking the drug you need to consult your doctor. The information contained in this article is not intended to cover all possible precautions, drug interactions, adverse effects, directions, uses, allergic reactions or warnings.
He knows everything about medications – to which pharmacological group the drug belongs, what components are included in its composition, how it differs from its analogs, what indications, contraindications, and side effects remedy has. John is a real pro in his field, so he knows all these subtleties and wants to tell you about them.