1. What are Warfarin Sodium Tablets, USP?
Warfarin Sodium is a type of drug called an anticoagulant. This medication helps to prevent the formation of harmful blood clots.
Warfarin Sodium helps patients avoid and treat thromboembolism (the throwing off of clots), an event associated with atrial fibrillation (an abnormal heart rhythm) and/or heart valve replacement. It is also prescribed to prevent patients from suffering a repeat myocardial infarction (heart attack).
2. Why do I need this medication?
Your healthcare provider has prescribed Warfarin Sodium Tablets, USP because you are at risk of developing a potentially harmful blood clot.
While it is normal and healthy for blood to clot after an injury, blood that clots too quickly and without cause can be the source of serious problems. This is especially true when the clots move from one part of your body to another. For example, if a clot moves to your brain, it can cause a stroke. If it moves to your heart, a heart attack could result. If it lands in your lungs, you could suffer a pulmonary embolism.
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3. How does this medication work?
Warfarin Sodium helps to prevent your body’s ability to form potentially dangerous clots in your heart and blood vessels. In addition, as part of an anticoagulation therapy program, it can help keep existing clots from growing or from breaking loose and moving to areas where they can cause life-threatening problems.
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4. How much Warfarin Sodium do I take, and how often?
As with any prescription, you should take the exact dosage amount and follow the exact schedule prescribed by your doctor. This is necessary to ensure that the amount of this medication in your bloodstream remains as consistent as possible. Remember, if the amount of this medication in your bloodstream changes, your clotting time will also change.
For this reason, if you are required to take Warfarin Sodium every day, take it at the same daily time. To help you remember, combine it with another scheduled daily habit, such as brushing your teeth or setting your alarm clock. We have provided a calendar in this booklet that will help you track your dosage schedule.
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5. What if I miss a dose?
Because of the importance of maintaining regular clotting times, consistent levels of Warfarin Sodium in your bloodstream is critical. Therefore, if you miss a dose, contact your doctor immediately.
You can make up your missed dose on the same day and then return to your normal schedule the following day. Do not make up a missed dose by double dosing the next day. Again, your doctor is your best source of advice to correct this situation. Never stop taking Warfarin Sodium without your doctor’s consent.
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6. How long will I take this medication?
There is no general timeline. Your individual needs and progress will determine your course of therapy. Your doctor will adjust your dosage as necessary, depending on blood test results, and will continue your therapy until there is no indication of a danger of thrombosis or embolism.
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7. Why do I need a blood test?
Your doctor will test a small amount of your blood to determine how fast it clots. This interval is called prothrombin time, which is also called protime or PT. Your healthcare provider may record your protime as an INR (International Normalized Ratio).
The level of your protime will help your doctor determine the most effective dosage of Warfarin Sodium. This level will change, depending on your progress or changes in health or lifestyle. For example, an illness or a change in diet, especially your intake of foods rich in vitamin K, can impact the effectiveness of Warfarin Sodium and, therefore, can also affect your protime.
Therefore, you need to tell your doctor about any changes in your lifestyle, particularly any other medication you are taking, because your dosage may need to be adjusted.
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8. How often do I need a blood test?
After your first dose of Warfarin Sodium, your blood should be tested daily until your results are consistently stable in a range your doctor determines as protective against blood clots.
From then on, the timetable for your tests will be set by your doctor after evaluating how well you are responding to the therapy. Generally, once a stable dosage has been determined, retesting happens every one to four weeks.
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9. Do I need to be on a special diet?
As always, you should try to keep your diet balanced and healthy. You should also avoid alcohol.
In addition, you need to monitor your intake of vitamin K, which contributes to blood clotting and can therefore have an impact on the effectiveness of Warfarin Sodium. Once you start taking your medication, you need to be careful to keep your vitamin K intake consistent. This means you need to watch the amounts of vitamin K-rich foods you eat, including green, leafy vegetables such as:
As well as some oils, including:
Remember, this does not mean you can’t eat these foods. It simply means you need to let your healthcare provider know if you change the amount you eat.
Also, you should avoid intake of cranberry juice or any other cranberry products.
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10. Can I exercise while taking Warfarin Sodium?
Regular exercise is always beneficial to your health. However, contact sports and activities that may result in a fall or injury could be especially harmful to you while taking this medication. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider before starting or changing your exercise program or physical activities.
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11. I’ve switched from another brand of this type of medication. Should I take Warfarin Sodium the same way?
Although you will likely continue with the same course of therapy, your healthcare provider will advise you of any differences in dosage with Warfarin Sodium.
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12. I have some of my previous medication left over. Can I take them along with my Warfarin Sodium?
Do not continue to take any other similar medication left over from a previous prescription that is no longer in your treatment regimen along with Warfarin Sodium, unless directed to by your doctor.
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13. Are there other medications or products that might affect my Warfarin Sodium therapy?
Other medications, vitamins and herbal products may affect how Warfarin Sodium works and may affect your
blood’s ability to coagulate. To name a few: some analgesics (i.e., aspirin or Tylenol®**), topical analgesics (i.e., Aspercreme®***), multi-vitamins containing vitamin K and/or herbal products (i.e., St. John’s Wort, garlic, Ginko biloba and dong quai). Be sure to inform your doctor before taking or discontinuing any medications.
14. When do I need to contact my healthcare provider?
Tell your doctor if you experience any illness, such as:
You also need to call your doctor if you experience any symptoms of bleeding (which might happen inside your body, as well as outside). These include:
15. Any other situations I should tell my doctor about?
If you become pregnant, or are planning to, talk to your healthcare provider immediately. You should not take Warfarin Sodium during pregnancy.
If you’re planning to travel and/or be away from home for an extended period of time, you should alert your healthcare provider first. You may need to have a blood test before you leave to check your Warfarin Sodium dosage. You should also be aware of how travel could change your response to Warfarin Sodium.
If you’re sick and take any over-the-counter medicines, your doctor needs to know. Your Warfarin Sodium dosage may need to be adjusted.
If you go to the dentist or need emergency care, you must let your healthcare providers know that you are taking Warfarin Sodium. Carry the identification card in this brochure to help assure that you receive proper care.
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