Warfarin Therapy

Authors

  • Peter Zajac, DO, FACOFP
  • Merideth C. Norris, DO, FACOFP
  • Amy J. Keenum, DO, PharmD

Abstract

Warfarin (brand name Coumadin) is a medication for people who are at increased risk of making blood clots due to an abnormal heart rhythm, certain replaced heart valves, and some clotting disorders. Warfarin is also used in patients who have had blood clots in the heart, brain, lungs, and legs to keep a clot from getting larger. The goal of warfarin treatment is to slow the clotting of blood, not to stop clotting. The effect of warfarin must be checked closely (i.e. at least once a month and sometimes more often) with blood testing. The blood test used to measure the time it takes for blood to clot is called a prothrombin time (PT) and is reported as the International Normalized Ratio (INR). If the INR is below the target range there is a risk of clotting. If the INR is above the target range there is an increased risk of bleeding. A change in daily living, such as the type of foods we eat or drugs we take, also can affect how warfarin works in the body. 

 

Author Biographies

Peter Zajac, DO, FACOFP

Author

Merideth C. Norris, DO, FACOFP

Editor

Amy J. Keenum, DO, PharmD

Health Literacy Editor

References

Coumadin.gov

NIH

UpToDate.

Downloads

Published

2014-11-07

How to Cite

Zajac, DO, FACOFP, Peter, et al. “Warfarin Therapy”. Osteopathic Family Physician, vol. 6, no. 6, Nov. 2014, https://ofpjournal.com/index.php/ofp/article/view/360.

Issue

Section

Patient Education Handout(s)
Received 2014-10-27
Accepted 2014-10-27
Published 2014-11-07