Coumadin 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.
Bleeding Risk
- Coumadin 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, 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.
