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What is Warfarin
 Warfarin
is an anticoagulant (blood thinner).
Warfarin
reduces the formation of blood clots, which is important in
the prevention of heart attacks, strokes, and blockage of
major veins and arteries.
Warfarin
may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this
medication guide.
General medical information about Warfarin
Never take a double dose of this medication.
Do not take aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, others),
ketoprofen (Orudis, Orudis KT, Oruvail), naproxen (Naprosyn,
Aleve, Anaprox), and others while taking Warfarin, except
under the direction of your doctor. These medicines increase
the risk of bleeding.
Avoid sudden changes in your
diet. Vitamin K decreases the effects of Warfarin. Large
amounts of vitamin K are found in foods such as liver, broccoli,
brussels sprouts, and green leafy vegetables (e.g., spinach,
Swiss chard, coriander, collards, cabbage). Do not change
the amount of these foods in your diet without first talking
to your doctor.
It will be necessary to regularly
monitor your therapy with a blood test called a "PT"
or an "INR." These tests help to determine the
amount of Warfarin that you need to take.
Contact
your doctor if you experience any unusual bruises or heavily
bleeding wounds, diarrhea, infection, or fever during treatment
with Warfarin.
What you should find out before taking
Warfarin
Do not take Warfarin if you:
- recently had
surgery;
- have a stomach ulcer or bleeding in the
stomach;
- have had a certain type of stroke caused
by bleeding in the brain;
- have had an aneurysm;
- recently had a spinal puncture or lumbar block
anesthesia; or
- have bacterial endocarditis (infection
of the heart), pericarditis (swelling of tissue around the
heart), or pericardial effusion (build-up of fluid around
the heart).
Before taking Warfarin, tell your doctor
if you:
- have kidney disease;
- have liver
disease;
- have high blood pressure;
- have
a hereditary protein C or protein S deficiency;
-
are diabetic;
- have polycythemia vera;
-
have vasculitis;
- have congestive heart failure;
- have a collagen vascular disorder such as systemic
lupus erythematosus;
- have thyroid disease;
-
have high cholesterol;
- have cancer;
- have
a vitamin K deficiency;
- are considering having
surgery; or
- are taking antibiotics to treat an
infection.
You may not be able to take Warfarin,
or you may need a dosage adjustment or special monitoring
during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed
above.
Warfarin is in the FDA pregnancy category
X. This means that Warfarin is known to cause birth defects
in an unborn baby and must not be taken during pregnancy.
Do not take Warfarin if you are pregnant or could become
pregnant during treatment. Consult your doctor immediately
if you become pregnant while taking Warfarin.
Warfarin
has not been detected in human breast milk. Talk to your
doctor before taking Warfarin if you are breast-feeding
a baby.
How should take Warfarin Take Warfarin exactly as directed by your doctor.
If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist,
nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
Take each
dose with a full glass of water.
It is important
to take Warfarin at the same time every day. Warfarin can
be taken with or without food.
It is important to
take Warfarin regularly to get the most benefit.
Never take a double dose of this medication.
Do not
stop taking Warfarin without first talking to your doctor.
It will be necessary to regularly monitor your therapy
with a blood test called a "PT" or an "INR."
These tests help to determine the amount of Warfarin that
you need to take. Your doctor may also want you to have
other blood tests or medical evaluations during treatment
with Warfarin to monitor progress and side effects.
Do not take any more or less of this drug than is prescribed
for you.
Avoid sudden changes in your diet. Vitamin
K decreases the effects of Warfarin. Large amounts of vitamin
K are found in foods such as liver, broccoli, brussels sprouts,
and green leafy vegetables (e.g., spinach, Swiss chard,
coriander, collards, cabbage). Do not change the amount
of these foods in your diet without first talking to your
doctor.
Contact your doctor if you experience any
unusual bruises or heavily bleeding wounds, diarrhea, infection,
or fever during treatment with Warfarin.
Store this
medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
If you miss a dose: Take the missed dose as soon as you remember, on
the same day. If the missed dose is not remembered until
the next day, skip that dose and take only the next regularly
scheduled dose.Never take a double dose of this medication.
What happens if you overdose: Seek emergency medical treatment.
Symptoms
of a Warfarin overdose include bruising; small, broken blood
vessels under the skin; excessive bleeding from cuts or
wounds; bleeding from the gums; blood in the stools, urine,
or vomit; and excessive menstrual bleeding in women.
Avoid while taking Warfarin Avoid sudden changes in your diet. Vitamin K decreases
the effects of Warfarin. Large amounts of vitamin K are
found in foods such as liver, broccoli, brussels sprouts,
and green leafy vegetables (e.g., spinach, Swiss chard,
coriander, collards, cabbage). Do not change the amount
of these foods in your diet without first talking to your
doctor.
Do not take aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin,
others), ketoprofen (Orudis, Orudis KT, Oruvail), naproxen
(Naprosyn, Aleve, Anaprox) and others while taking Warfarin,
except under the direction of your doctor. These medicines
increase the risk of bleeding.
Tell your doctor (or
dentist) that you are taking Warfarin before taking an antibiotic
or before having surgery.
Do not start or stop taking
any other medications during treatment with Warfarin without
first talking to your doctor.
Avoid hazardous activities
and sports that may cause injuries. Bleeding and bruising
may be a problem, especially at the start of therapy. Watch
for excessive bleeding and bruising and report any unusual
bruises or heavily bleeding wounds to your doctor.
Avoid the use of alcohol and tobacco products. These products
can alter the effects of Warfarin and cause problems with
your therapy. Discuss the use of alcohol and tobacco with
your doctor.
Possible side effects of Warfarin If you experience any of the following serious side
effects from Warfarin, stop taking the medication and seek
emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:
- an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing
of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or
hives);
- black, bloody, or tarry stools;
-
blood in urine or vomit;
- coughing up blood;
-
bleeding gums or sores in the mouth;
- decreased
urine production;
- yellowing of the skin or eyes;
- severe dizziness or headache;
- easy bleeding
or bruising under the skin;
- purple discoloration
of the toes or fingers;
- sudden leg or foot pain;
or
- unusually heavy menstrual periods.
Other,
less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Talk
to your doctor if you experience
- excessive gas
or bloating;
- diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting;
-
hair loss; or
- decreased appetite or weight.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur.
Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual
or that is especially bothersome.
What other drugs will affect Warfarin
Warfarin
interacts with many other drugs, and these interactions can
be dangerous, even fatal. Before starting treatment with Warfarin,
tell your doctor and pharmacist about all medicines you take
including prescription medicines, over-the-counter products,
vitamins, minerals, and herbal products. Talk to your doctor
and pharmacist before taking any other medication during treatment
with Warfarin. |
