Coumadin Information and Uses

Coumadin

Coumadin (generic: warfarin) is a prescription medication used to lower the chances of blood clots forming in your body due to various causes. Coumadin belongs to a group of drugs called anticoagulants or "blood thinners". It helps prevent blood clots from forming by decreasing the formation of substances in the blood known as clotting factors. Careful monitoring of side effects is required using regular blood tests.

This medication comes in tablet form. It is also available in an injectable form to be infused into a vein by a healthcare provider at a hospital or other medical facility. Coumadin is usually taken once daily, with or without food. The dosage will vary depending on the results of your PT/INR test (blood test).

Common side effects of Coumadin are nausea, vomiting, and an altered sense of taste. Seek medical attention if you experience bruising or bleeding.

Uses of Coumadin

Coumadin is a prescription medication used to lower the chances of blood clots forming in your body due to various causes.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Side Effects of Coumadin

Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following signs or symptoms of bleeding problems:

pain
swelling
discomfort
headaches, dizziness, or weakness
bleeding gums?>
bleeding from cuts takes a long time to stop
menstrual bleeding or vaginal bleeding that is heavier than normal
pink or brown urine
red or black stools
coughing up blood
vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds

Serious side effects of Coumadin also include:

death of skin tissue (skin necrosis or gangrene). This can happen soon after starting Coumadin. It happens because blood clots form and block blood flow to an area of your body. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have pain, color, or temperature change to any area of your body. You may need medical care right away to prevent death or loss (amputation) of your affected body part.
“purple toes syndrome.” Call your healthcare provider right away if you have pain in your toes and they look purple in color or dark in color.

Other side effects with Coumadin include:

allergic reactions
liver problems
low blood pressure
swelling
low red blood cells
paleness
fever

Coumadin Interactions

Many medicines, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements can interact with Coumadin and affect the dose you need, or increase Coumadin side effects.

Some of the medications known to interact with Coumadin are:

aspirin
ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)
naproxen (Aleve)
acetaminophen (Tylenol)
some antibiotics
heparin
cold medicines
allergy medicines
birth control pills
amiodarone

There are many more medicines that interact with Coumadin. Before taking a new medicine, check with your doctor or pharmacist to be certain it won't interact with Coumadin.

Do not take other medicines that contain warfarin. Warfarin is the active ingredient in Coumadin.

Coumadin Precautions

Take your Coumadin exactly as prescribed to lower the chance of blood clots forming in your body. Coumadin is very important for your health, but it can cause serious and life-threatening bleeding problems. To benefit from Coumadin and also lower your chance for bleeding problems, you must:

Get your regular blood test to check for your response to Coumadin. This blood test is called a PT/INR test. The PT/INR test checks to see how fast your blood clots. Your healthcare provider will decide what PT/INR numbers are best for you. Your dose of Coumadin will be adjusted to keep your PT/INR in a target range for you.
Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following signs or symptoms of bleeding problems:

pain, swelling, or discomfort
headaches, dizziness, or weakness
unusual bruising (bruises that develop without known cause or grow in size)
nosebleeds
bleeding gums
bleeding from cuts takes a long time to stop
menstrual bleeding or vaginal bleeding that is heavier than normal
pink or brown urine
red or black stools
coughing up blood
vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
Many other medicines, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements can interact with Coumadin and affect the dose you need, or
increase Coumadin side effects.
Do not take other medicines that contain warfarin. Warfarin is the active ingredient in Coumadin.
Some foods can interact with Coumadin and affect your treatment and dose.
Eat a normal, balanced diet. Talk to your doctor before you make any diet changes. Do not eat large amounts of leafy green vegetables. Leafy green vegetables contain vitamin K. Certain vegetable oils also contain large amounts of vitamin K. Too much vitamin K can lower the effect of Coumadin.
Avoid drinking cranberry juice or eating cranberry products.
Avoid drinking alcohol.
Always tell all of your healthcare providers that you take Coumadin.
Wear or carry information that you take Coumadin.

Do not take Coumadin if:

your chance of having bleeding problems is higher than the possible benefit of treatment. Your healthcare provider will decide if Coumadin is right for you. Talk to your healthcare provider about all of your health conditions.
you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Coumadin can cause death or birth defects to an unborn baby. Use effective birth control if you can get pregnant.
you are allergic to warfarin or to anything else in Coumadin.

What to Avoid:

Do not start, stop, or change any medicine without talking with your healthcare provider.
Do not make changes in your diet, such as eating large amounts of green, leafy vegetables.
Do not change your weight by dieting, without first checking with your healthcare provider.
Avoid drinking alcohol.
Do not do any activity or sport that may cause a serious injury.

Coumadin Food Interactions

Some foods can interact with Coumadin and affect your treatment and dose.

Eat a normal, balanced diet. Talk to your doctor before you make any diet changes. Do not eat large amounts of leafy green vegetables. Leafy green vegetables contain vitamin K. Certain vegetable oils also contain large amounts of vitamin K. Too much vitamin K can lower the effect of Coumadin.

Avoid drinking cranberry juice or eating cranberry products.

Avoid drinking alcohol.

Inform MD

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your health conditions, including if you:

have bleeding problems

fall often
have liver or kidney problems
have high blood pressure
have a heart problem called congestive heart failure
have diabetes
drink alcohol or have problems with alcohol abuse. Alcohol can affect your Coumadin dose and should be avoided.
are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
are breastfeeding. Coumadin may increase bleeding in your baby. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby. If you choose to breastfeed while taking Coumadin, both you and your baby should be carefully monitored for bleeding problems.

Coumadin and Pregnancy

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Coumadin can cause death or birth defects to an unborn baby.

Coumadin and Lactation

Coumadin may increase bleeding in your baby. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby. If you choose to breastfeed while taking Coumadin, both you and your baby should be carefully monitored for bleeding problems.

Coumadin Usage

Take Coumadin exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider will adjust your dose from time to time depending on your response to Coumadin.
You must have regular blood tests and visits with your healthcare provider to monitor your condition.
Take Coumadin at the same time every day. You can take Coumadin either with food or on an empty stomach.
If you miss a dose of Coumadin, call your healthcare provider. Take the dose as soon as possible on the same day. Do not take a double dose of Coumadin the next day to make up for a missed dose.
Call your healthcare provider right away if you take too much Coumadin.
Call your healthcare provider if you are sick with diarrhea, an infection, or have a fever.
Tell your healthcare provider about any planned surgeries, medical or dental procedures. Your Coumadin may have to be stopped for a short time or you may need your dose adjusted.
Call your healthcare provider right away if you fall or injure yourself, especially if you hit your head. Your healthcare provider may need to check you.

Warfarin sodium can cause major or fatal bleeding. Bleeding is more likely to occur during the starting period and with a higher dose (resulting in a higher INR).
Risk factors for bleeding include high intensity of anticoagulation (INR greater than 4), age 65 or older, highly variable INRs, history of gastrointestinal bleeding, hypertension, cereberovascular disease, serious heart disease, anemia, malignancy, trauma, renal insufficiency, concomitant drugs (See PRECAUTIONS), and long duration of warfarin therapy.
Regular monitoring of INR should be performed on all treated patients. Those at high risk of bleeding may benefit from more frequent INR monitoring, careful dose adjustment to desired INR, and a shorter duration of therapy.
Patients should be instructed about prevention measures to minimize the risk of bleeding and to report immediately to physicians the signs and symptoms of bleeding (SEE PREACUTIONS:Information for Patients).