If an accident occurs and the person is too ill to communicate, a medical alert tag will help responders provide appropriate care. The alert should include a list of major medical conditions and the reason warfarin is needed, as well as the name and phone number of an emergency contact. Your healthcare provider is the best source of information for questions and concerns related to your medical problem. Because no 2 patients are exactly alike, and recommendations can vary from 1 person to another, it is important to seek guidance from a provider who is familiar with your individual condition.
Written by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisers. See our editorial policies and staff. About Arrhythmia. Why Arrhythmia Matters. Understand Your Risk for Arrhythmia. Symptoms, Diagnosis and Monitoring of Arrhythmia. Prevention and Treatment. Arrhythmia Tools and Resources. How Does Warfarin Work? Monitoring and Dosing Tips The goal of warfarin therapy is to decrease the clotting tendency of blood, not to prevent clotting completely.
Difference Between Brand-Name and Generic Medications Generic drugs are supposed to have the same dosage, therapeutic effects, route of administration, side effects, and strength as the original drug. Warfarin must be taken exactly as prescribed. Signs of unusual bleeding include: bleeding from the gums, blood in the urine, bloody or dark stool, a nosebleed, or vomiting blood. When to Call Your Healthcare Provider If you experience the following signs of bleeding, you should call or your healthcare provider immediately: Severe headache, confusion, weakness or numbness Coughing up large amounts of bright red blood Vomiting blood Bleeding that will not stop Bright red blood in stool Fall or injury to the head Headache that is severe or unusual Some simple changes to decrease the risk of bleeding while taking warfarin include the following: Use a soft-bristle toothbrush Floss with waxed floss rather than unwaxed floss Shave with an electric razor rather than a blade Take care when using sharp objects, such as knives and scissors Avoid activities that have a risk of falling or injury e.
Pregnancy Warfarin is not recommended during pregnancy. Travel Check with your healthcare provider if you expect to travel. Never double a dose because you missed a dose.
Do tell your healthcare provider when you get sick or hurt. Do take warfarin exactly as prescribed. Tell your GP or anticoagulant nurse if you're going on holiday, in this country or abroad, and arrange to have your INR checked before you go.
If you're going to be away longer than a month, you may need to arrange to have your INR checked while you're away. Make sure you have enough warfarin tablets to last for the duration of your trip. Body piercings aren't recommended while taking warfarin because of the increased risk of bleeding and risk of infection.
Home Tests and treatments Medicines and medical aids Types of medicine Warfarin. Introduction Warfarin is the main oral anticoagulant used in the UK.
To produce some of the clotting factors, the liver needs a good supply of vitamin K. When warfarin is prescribed Anticoagulant medicines, such as warfarin, are often prescribed for people who've had a condition caused by a blood clot , such as: a stroke a heart attack deep vein thrombosis — a blood clot within a deep vein in the body, usually in a leg pulmonary embolism — a blood clot in the lungs Warfarin may also be prescribed for people at an increased risk of developing harmful blood clots, such as those with: a replacement or mechanical prosthetic heart valve an irregular heart rhythm, known as atrial fibrillation a blood clotting disorder, such as thrombophilia an increased risk of blood clots following surgery Taking warfarin It's very important that you take warfarin exactly as directed.
The international normalised ratio INR is a measure of how long it takes your blood to clot. Missed doses If you usually take warfarin in the morning and forget to take it at your normal time, take it as soon as you remember and continue as normal. Who shouldn't take warfarin The following people shouldn't take warfarin: pregnant women — it can affect the development of the baby people with uncontrolled high blood pressure severe hypertension people with a high risk of internal bleeding — for example, those with a stomach ulcer people with a bleeding disorder — such as haemophilia Side effects of warfarin Bleeding is the main side effect associated with warfarin, as it slows down the blood's normal clotting ability.
You should therefore seek medical attention if you: pass blood in your urine or faeces pass black faeces have severe bruising have long nosebleeds — lasting more than 10 minutes have bleeding gums cough up blood or have blood in your vomit experience unusual headaches have heavy or increased bleeding during your period, or any other bleeding from your vagina in women Take extra care to avoid cutting yourself while taking anticoagulant medication because of the risk of excessive bleeding.
For example, you should: take care when shaving and brushing your teeth wear protective clothing when gardening, sewing or playing contact sports use insect repellent to avoid insect bites or stings Seek urgent medical attention if you're taking warfarin and you: have a fall or accident experience a significant blow to your head are unable to stop any bleeding have signs of bleeding, such as bruising Skin rashes and hair loss are also common side effects of warfarin.
Interactions Medicines Warfarin can interact with many other medicines. Ask your GP or pharmacist if you're unsure. When taking warfarin: don't take aspirin , or treatments containing aspirin, unless it's prescribed by a healthcare professional as it could cause bleeding don't take ibuprofen unless it's prescribed by a healthcare professional you can take paracetamol , but don't take more than the recommended dose Herbal medicines and supplements can also interact with warfarin.
Food and drink Some food and drink can interfere with the effect of warfarin if consumed in large amounts, including foods that are rich in vitamin K. Foods containing large amounts of vitamin K include: green leafy vegetables, such as broccoli and spinach vegetable oils cereal grains Small amounts of vitamin K can also be found in meat and dairy foods.
Alcohol Getting drunk or binge drinking is dangerous while taking warfarin. Heavy drinkers or people with liver disease who are taking warfarin shouldn't drink alcohol. Other useful information Surgery and dental work Because of the risk of bleeding, your dose of warfarin may need to be lowered or stopped a few days before having an operation or dental work.
And antibiotics change the way warfarin is metabolized in the liver, Azhar said. The difficulty in managing warfarin is the main reason doctors are switching their patients to newer anticoagulants, Azhar said. These newer drugs, such as Xarelto rivaroxaban and Eliquis apixaban , don't require frequent blood tests or other monitoring and aren't affected by diet or other drugs, Azhar said.
Warfarin is still the drug of choice for patients who have mechanical heart valves or a higher genetic risk of chronic bleeding or, who tend to have more clotting not from a heart problem, just from something to do with their blood, Azhar said. Learn more about warfarin from the American Heart Association. Acquire the license to the best health content in the world. January 17, Do You Take Warfarin? Some foods and beverages, particularly those that contain vitamin K, can affect how warfarin works for you.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a list of foods that contain vitamin K. Eat consistent amounts of vitamin K-containing food on a week-to-week basis. Do not eat large amounts of leafy, green vegetables or certain vegetable oils that contain large amounts of vitamin K. Be sure to talk to your doctor before you make any changes in your diet. Talk to your doctor about eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice while taking this medication.
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. Call your doctor if you miss a dose of warfarin.
You should know that warfarin may cause necrosis or gangrene death of skin or other body tissues. Call your doctor immediately if you notice a purplish or darkened color to your skin, skin changes, ulcers, or an unusual problem in any area of your skin or body, or if you have a severe pain that occurs suddenly, or color or temperature change in any area of your body.
Call your doctor immediately if your toes become painful or become purple or dark in color. You may need medical care right away to prevent amputation removal of your affected body part.
Warfarin may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication. 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. Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet.
Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location — one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach.
In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at Carry an identification card or wear a bracelet stating that you take warfarin.
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