Coumadin

Coumadin Product Description

This medicine is a blood thinner and is prevent and/or treat a blood clot that has formed within a blood vessel or in the lungs, blood clots associated with certain heart conditions or replacement of a heart valve, aids in the prevention of blood clots that may form in blood vessels anywhere in the body after a heart attack or reduce the risk of death, another heart attack, or stroke after a heart attack.Store in a dry place at room temperature between 59° - 86°F. Keep out of reach of children and petsHow much medicine you take and how often you take it depend on many factors, including the condition being treated and the age and weight of the patient. If you have any questions about the amount and/or frequency of the medicine you are taking, talk with your health care provider. Do not stop taking this medicine without checking with your health care provider. Patients with previous medical conditions should talk with their health care provider before taking this medicine. Do not take more medicine than prescribed unless advised to do so by your health care provider. Do not take any other over-the-counter or prescription medications without talking with your health care provider. If a dose is missed, take it as soon as possible. If several hours have passed or if it is nearing time for the next dose, do not double the dose to catch up, unless advised by your health care provider. If more than one dose is missed, contact your health care provider or pharmacist. Treatment with blood thinners may increase the risk that fatty plaque will break away from the wall of an artery and lodge at another point, causing the blockage of a blood vessel. If you notice any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor immediately: Abdominal pain; abrupt and intense pain in the leg, foot, or toes; blood in the urine; bluish mottling of the skin of the legs and hands; foot ulcers; gangrene; high blood pressure; muscle pain; "purple toes syndrome" (see below); rash; or thigh or back pain. If you are taking this medicine, your doctor should periodically check the time it takes for your blood to start the clotting process (prothrombin time). Numerous factors such as travel and changes in diet, environment, physical state, and medication may alter your response to treatment with an anticoagulant. Clotting time should also be monitored after your release from the hospital and whenever other medications are started, discontinued, or taken sporadically.Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to this or similar medicines or to any ingredient present in this medicine, tendency to hemorrhage, alcoholism, aneurysm (balloon-like swelling of a blood vessel) in the brain or heart, bleeding tendencies associated with: ulceration or bleeding of the stomach, intestines, respiratory tract, or the genital or urinary system, eclampsia (a rare and serious pregnancy disorder producing life-threatening convulsions), or preeclampsia (a toxic condition--including headache, high blood pressure, and swelling of the legs and feet--that can lead to eclampsia), excessive bleeding of brain blood vessels, inflammation, due to bacterial infection, of the membrane that lines the inside of the heart, inflammation of the sac that surrounds the heart or an escape of fluid from the heart sac, malignant hypertension (extremely elevated blood pressure that damages the inner linings of blood vessels, the heart, spleen, kidneys, and brain), recent or contemplated surgery of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) or eye, spinal puncture or any procedure that can cause uncontrollable bleedingBefore using this medicine, tell your health care provider about any of the following: if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine if you are taking any herbal products, if you are taking blood thinners if you have stomach problems if you have peptic ulcers if you have any other medical condition like liver or kidney function impairment, heart ot lung problem,Be extremely cautious, about taking any herbal remedies and supplements. A wide assortment of herbal products--including St. John's Wort, coenzyme Q10, bromelains, dan-shen, dong quai, garlic, and ginkgo biloba--are known to interact with this medicine or otherwise affect coagulation.Most severe: Abdominal pain and cramping, allergic reactions, diarrhea, fatigue, feeling cold and chills, feeling of illness, fever, fluid retention and swelling, gas and bloating, hepatitis, hives, intolerance to cold, itching, lethargy, liver damage, loss of hair, nausea, necrosis (gangrene), pain, purple toes, rash, severe or long-lasting inflammation of the skin, taste changes, vomiting, yellowed skin and eyesMost common: Hemorrhage: Signs of severe bleeding resulting in the loss of large amounts of blood depend upon the location and extent of bleeding. Symptoms include: chest, abdomen, joint, muscle, or other pain; difficult breathing or swallowing; dizziness; headache; low blood pressure; numbness and tingling; paralysis; shortness of breath; unexplained shockOther: Unexplained swelling; weakness

How should Coumadin be stored?

Store in a dry place at room temperature between 59° - 86°F. Keep out of reach of children and pets

How should I take Coumadin?

How much medicine you take and how often you take it depend on many factors, including the condition being treated and the age and weight of the patient. If you have any questions about the amount and/or frequency of the medicine you are taking, talk with your health care provider. Do not stop taking this medicine without checking with your health care provider. Patients with previous medical conditions should talk with their health care provider before taking this medicine. Do not take more medicine than prescribed unless advised to do so by your health care provider. Do not take any other over-the-counter or prescription medications without talking with your health care provider. If a dose is missed, take it as soon as possible. If several hours have passed or if it is nearing time for the next dose, do not double the dose to catch up, unless advised by your health care provider. If more than one dose is missed, contact your health care provider or pharmacist. Treatment with blood thinners may increase the risk that fatty plaque will break away from the wall of an artery and lodge at another point, causing the blockage of a blood vessel. If you notice any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor immediately: Abdominal pain; abrupt and intense pain in the leg, foot, or toes; blood in the urine; bluish mottling of the skin of the legs and hands; foot ulcers; gangrene; high blood pressure; muscle pain; "purple toes syndrome" (see below); rash; or thigh or back pain. If you are taking this medicine, your doctor should periodically check the time it takes for your blood to start the clotting process (prothrombin time). Numerous factors such as travel and changes in diet, environment, physical state, and medication may alter your response to treatment with an anticoagulant. Clotting time should also be monitored after your release from the hospital and whenever other medications are started, discontinued, or taken sporadically.

When should Coumadin not be taken?

Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to this or similar medicines or to any ingredient present in this medicine, tendency to hemorrhage, alcoholism, aneurysm (balloon-like swelling of a blood vessel) in the brain or heart, bleeding tendencies associated with: ulceration or bleeding of the stomach, intestines, respiratory tract, or the genital or urinary system, eclampsia (a rare and serious pregnancy disorder producing life-threatening convulsions), or preeclampsia (a toxic condition--including headache, high blood pressure, and swelling of the legs and feet--that can lead to eclampsia), excessive bleeding of brain blood vessels, inflammation, due to bacterial infection, of the membrane that lines the inside of the heart, inflammation of the sac that surrounds the heart or an escape of fluid from the heart sac, malignant hypertension (extremely elevated blood pressure that damages the inner linings of blood vessels, the heart, spleen, kidneys, and brain), recent or contemplated surgery of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) or eye, spinal puncture or any procedure that can cause uncontrollable bleeding

What precautions should I follow when taking Coumadin?

Before using this medicine, tell your health care provider about any of the following: if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine if you are taking any herbal products, if you are taking blood thinners if you have stomach problems if you have peptic ulcers if you have any other medical condition like liver or kidney function impairment, heart ot lung problem,

What special warning(s) should I be aware of when taking Coumadin?

Be extremely cautious, about taking any herbal remedies and supplements. A wide assortment of herbal products--including St. John's Wort, coenzyme Q10, bromelains, dan-shen, dong quai, garlic, and ginkgo biloba--are known to interact with this medicine or otherwise affect coagulation.

What are the side effects of Coumadin?

Most severe: Abdominal pain and cramping, allergic reactions, diarrhea, fatigue, feeling cold and chills, feeling of illness, fever, fluid retention and swelling, gas and bloating, hepatitis, hives, intolerance to cold, itching, lethargy, liver damage, loss of hair, nausea, necrosis (gangrene), pain, purple toes, rash, severe or long-lasting inflammation of the skin, taste changes, vomiting, yellowed skin and eyes

Most common: Hemorrhage: Signs of severe bleeding resulting in the loss of large amounts of blood depend upon the location and extent of bleeding. Symptoms include: chest, abdomen, joint, muscle, or other pain; difficult breathing or swallowing; dizziness; headache; low blood pressure; numbness and tingling; paralysis; shortness of breath; unexplained shock

Other: Unexplained swelling; weakness