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Questions About Warfarin (Coumadin)

Warfarin (Coumadin) FAQ

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Q: What is Warfarin?

A: Warfarin is a blood thinner. It works by interfering with the function of Vitamin K. Vitamin K is made by the liver and is an essential component of the normal clotting factors needed to clot your blood. Warfarin may be prescribed if you have a blood clot or if you have a clotting disorder, or sometimes if you have an abnormal heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation) or an implanted mechanical heart valve.

The length of time you are on warfarin varies patient to patient. Some people require warfarin for only a few months; others need lifelong treatment. This decision may be made in concert with your vascular surgeon, primary care physician, hematologist, and cardiologist.

Q: What happens when I start taking warfarin?

A: When you first start warfarin, it typically takes several days for the medication to take effect. The level in your bloodstream is monitored with a blood test called protime (PT) or international ratio (INR). The goal INR is typically 2-3. During the initial start-up time, you are also started on an injectable medication called Lovenox (Enoxaparin). This medication is administered by you or your family twice a day and is continued until the warfarin level is therapeutic. It may also be used at times when your INR drifts too low.

When you first start warfarin, the INR may need to be checked every day or every other day. Once you reach a stable level of warfarin, it is checked less frequently (once or twice a month). Typically, you identify a lab near you where your standing order for the INR is kept.

Always take your warfarin at night and always have the INR drawn in the morning. That way, your lab results are available by the afternoon, so that we can adjust your level if we need to. If you are working with our office to monitor your warfarin, please make sure we have a reliable way to reach you on the days you have your INR drawn.

Q: What are the side effects?

A: Side effects of warfarin include bleeding problems, rash or hives, easy bruising, nausea, flu-like symptoms/fatigue, joint or muscle aches, diarrhea, gas, hair loss, and change in the sensation of taste. Rarely, starting warfarin is associated with painful red or black sores in the skin of the legs, buttocks, or breasts, which can lead to large open wounds (warfarin necrosis). The chances of developing this complication are mitigated when using Lovenox to bridge the warfarin.

If you develop uncontrolled bleeding, or if you are involved in a major trauma or suffer a head injury while taking this medication, you should seek immediate medical attention.

Q: Are there alternatives to warfarin?

A: There are other newer oral anticoagulants which are currently being studied as alternatives to warfarin (Arixtra, Xarelto, Pradaxa). They are not yet FDA approved for all applications, but are used in some patients who cannot take warfarin.

Q: What kind of diet should I have while taking warfarin?

A: Some foods contain a lot of Vitamin K and will alter your warfarin levels. Our general philosophy is not to eliminate these foods entirely from your diet, but to be aware of them and to eat a consistent amount of them every day. In other words, do not binge on a salad-only diet for two weeks and then not eat green leafy vegetables at all for a month. Dietary concerns are especially important at times like travel, when you may be eating differently than you normally do at home. Staying in range on warfarin is vital in ensuring that the medication is working for you and also in avoiding serious bleeding complications.

Some Foods that Interact with Warfarin

  • Apple (green)
  • Asparagus
  • Avocado
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Celery
  • Collard greens, turnip greens
  • Garbanzo beans
  • Green pepper
  • Grapes
  • Kale
  • Kiwi
  • Lentil
  • Lettuce
  • Mint
  • Oil
  • Parsley
  • Scallions
  • Seaweed
  • Squash
  • Spinach
  • Swiss chard
  • Watercress

Q: Is there anything I should not eat while taking warfarin?

A: Some foods, medications, and supplements also potentiate the effects of warfarin, increasing the risk for bleeding problems:

  • Alcohol
  • Alfalfa
  • Anise
  • Antibiotics
  • Chamomile
  • Coenzyme Q10
  • Cranberry
  • Evening primrose oil
  • Garlic
  • Ginger
  • Green tea
  • Ginseng
  • Horse chestnut
  • Horseradish
  • Licorice
  • Omega 3
  • Papain
  • Ginkgo biloba
  • Glucosamine
  • SAMe
  • St. John’s wort
  • Turmeric
  • Non-steroidal medications (aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, Celebrex)

Tips About Warfarin

  • Talk with your doctor if you are planning to radically change your diet or if your weight has changed significantly.
  • Carry a card in your wallet or a bracelet on your wrist stating that you are on warfarin. This may be important if you are in an accident.
  • Any time a new medication is added to your regimen, ask your pharmacist or physician about potential interactions with warfarin. For example, many antibiotics interact with warfarin, and your protime may need to be checked more closely while you are on these medications.
  • If you develop spontaneous bleeding (prolonged nosebleed or bleeding from the rectum), or if you are in a major accident or suffer a head injury while on warfarin, seek medical attention.
  • Take acetaminophen rather than ibuprofen, if you can. Limit the use of other medications that thin your blood while you are on warfarin.
  • Avoid high-risk activities, such as high-contact sports, boxing, sky diving.
  • Get your protime checked in the morning so that results from the blood test are available before the close of the day.
  • Take your warfarin at the same time every day.
  • If you are anticipating any type of procedure, even dental work or an epidural, be sure to alert your treating physician and the person monitoring your coumadin.