General Info: Uses and Effects

Coumadin Generic (Warfarin) is a medicine that is used to treat blood clots, such as pulmonary embolus or deep vein thrombosis. This drug also helps to prevent harmful blood clots, this, in turn, helps to reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke in people with valvular heart disease, atrial fibrillation, and artificial heart valves. Warfarin is an anticoagulant or blood thinner as it is commonly referred to.

Warfarin is sold under the brand name of Coumadin Generic.

Contraindication: Important to Know

It is essential to inform your doctor about your current health status, allergies to certain medications as well as products you currently use. Be sure to inform your doctor if you have or you have had congestive heart failure, overactive thyroid, celiac sprue, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren syndrome, diabetes, Marfan syndrome, lupus, scleroderma. Also, inform your physician if you have had low blood platelets after receiving heparin.

• People who have heparin-induced thrombocytopenia should not use this medication until platelet count has normalized or improved.
• People with protein C or protein S deficiency should not use Warfarin as these conditions may heighten the risk of skin necrosis (which is an adverse effect).
• Do not use this drug if you have malignant tumor or cancer, polycythemia vera, anemia, hemorrhage in the brain, bleeding from the respiratory tract and bleeding risk associated with vitamin K epoxide reductase gene.
• People with a catheter in the vascular system, severe uncontrolled high blood pressure, stomach or intestinal ulcer, severe liver disease, protein C deficiency disease, calciphylaxis, and major traumatic injury should not take Coumadin Generic.
• Pregnant women or women intending to get pregnant should not use this medicine as it passes through placental barriers and may cause bleeding in the fetus. Stillbirth, preterm birth, neonatal death, and spontaneous abortion are commonly associated with the use of this medication.
• Nursing mothers should consult their doctor before taking this drug. It is unknown whether Warfarin is excreted into breast milk.

It is essential you inform why dentist, surgeon, or doctor who treats you that you are taking this medication. Keep this drug out of the reach of children. More importantly, do not share your medicine with others, especially those who have a history of drug abuse.

Instructions on Taking

It is essential you follow the instruction on the prescription label. Take it exactly as prescribed. Do not attempt to reduce or increase your dose without consulting with your doctor. More importantly, do not self-medicate.

Do not take alcohol while using Warfarin as it may affect the metabolism of the drug and can elevate the INR which will, in turn, increase the risk of bleeding.

Warfarin may be taken with or without food.

Use this medication regularly to get optimal benefit. Do not diet while taking Coumadin Generic. Also, inform your doctor if you notice anybody weight changes.

Seek emergency help if you overdose on this drug. Do not take twice the prescription to make up for a missed dose. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember however if it is almost time for your next one, you are advised to skip the missed dose.

Dosage

Warfarin is available in the following strengths: 1mg, 2mg, 2.5mg, 3 mg, 4mg, 5mg, 6mg, 7.5mg, 10mg.

Patients with thromboembolic stroke prophylaxis, deep vein thrombosis, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism and prosthetic heart valves should take an initial dose of 2mg to 5mg orally once a day. Afterward, the dose should be between 2mg to 5mg daily.

It is important to note that dosage and administration should be based on the medical condition being treated, patient's INR, and response to treatment.

Side effects :

Some common side effects associated with the use of Coumadin Warfarin include:

• Nausea;
• Vomiting;
• Bloating;
• Mild stomach pain;
• Altered sense of taste;
• Gas.

If you have any of adverse effects listed below, discontinue the medication and inform your doctor immediately:

• Tissue or organ hemorrhage;
• Blood in your urine;
• Frequent urination;
• Diarrhea;
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• Coughing up blood or vomit;
• Sudden headache;
• Dizziness or weakness;
• Hot or cold feeling;
• Foot ulcer;
• Pain;
• Tracheal or tracheobronchial calcification;
• Easy bruising;
• Dark urine;
• Severe leg or foot pain;
• Skin reactions;
• Unusual bleeding from your mouth, nose, rectum and vagina;
• Numbness;
• Fever;
• Back or side pain;
• Flu symptoms;
• Shortness of breath;
• Trouble concentrating;
• Bleeding that would not stop;
• Black or bloody stools;
• Acute kidney injury;
• GI disorders;
• Hepatic disorders;
• Purple toes or fingers;
• Light-headedness.

Interaction with Other Drugs

Coumadin Warfarin is known to interact with 880 medications. These include:

• Anti-depressants, such as Amoxapine (Asendin), Amitriptyline (Elavil), Paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva), Citalopram (Celexa), Clomipramine (Anafranil), Fluoxetine (Rapiflux, Selfemra, Sarafem, Symbyax, and Prozac).
• Antibiotics, such as Isoniazid (Nydrazid, INH), Dicloxacillin (Dynapen), Rifampin (Rimactane, Rifadin).
• Antifungals, such as Miconazole (Oravig, Monistat), Fluconazole (Vfend), Ketoconazole (Nizoral), and Itraconazole (Sporanox).
• Anticonvulsants/Anti-Seizure drugs. These include Acetazolamide (Acetazolam), Diazepam (Valium, Diastat, Diazemuls, Dipam), Phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytoin sodium, Tremytoine, Pregabalin, Lyrica), Primidone (Rufinamide, Banzel, Stiripentol, Diacomit ), Carbamazepine (Equetro, Referral, Carbatrol), Phenobarbital (Solfoton).
• Herbal products, such as ginkgo biloba, goldenseal, St John's Wort, cranberry, garlic, ginseng, and echinacea.

The above is not a complete list of products that interact with Warfarin; it is important to consult your physician for a comprehensive list of medicines that may interact with Coumadin Generic.