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Taking warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) - what to ask your doctor

Warfarin - what to ask your doctor; Coumadin - what to ask your doctor; Jantoven - what to ask your doctor

Warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) is a medicine that helps keep your blood from clotting. It is one of several medicines known as blood thinners. This medicine may be important if you have already had blood clots, or if your health care provider is worried that you may form a blood clot.

Below are questions you may want to ask your provider to help you when you take warfarin.

Questions

Why am I taking warfarin?

What will be changed for me?

How should I take warfarin?

Can I still take acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)? What about other pain medicines? How about cold medicines? How about antibiotics? What should I do if a doctor gives me a new prescription?

Do I need to make any changes in what I eat or drink or my overall eating habits? Can I drink alcohol?

What should I do if I fall? Are there changes I should make around the home?

What are the signs or symptoms that I may be bleeding somewhere in my body?

Do I need any blood tests? Where do I get them? How often?

Related Information

Pulmonary embolus
Deep vein thrombosis
Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter
Heart attack
Arrhythmias
Blood clots
Heart attack – discharge
Heart failure - discharge
Atrial fibrillation - discharge
Heart valve surgery - discharge
Taking warfarin (Coumadin)

References

Aronson JK. Coumarin anticoagulants. In: Aronson JK, ed. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs. 16th ed. Waltham, MA: Elsevier; 2016:702-737.

Schulman S, Levine GN. Antithrombotic and antiplatelet therapy. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 76.

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Review Date: 3/2/2023  

Reviewed By: Jacob Berman, MD, MPH, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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