Taking warfarin (Coumadin) Anticoagulant care; Blood-thinner
care What to Expect at Home Warfarin is a medicine that makes
your blood less likely to form clots. This may be important if:
- You have already had blood clots in your leg, arm, heart, or
brain. - Your doctor is worried that a blood clot may form in
your body. People who have a new heart valve, a large heart, a
heart rhythm that is not normal, or other heart problems may
need to take warfarin. When you are taking warfarin, you may be
more likely to bleed, even from activities you have always done.
Changing how you take your warfarin, taking other medicines, and
eating certain foods all can change the way warfarin works in
your body. If this happens, you may be more likely to form a
clot or have bleeding problems. It is important that you take
warfarin exactly as your doctor told you to. - Take only the
dose your doctor has prescribed. If you miss a dose, call you
doctor or nurse for advice. - If your pills look different from
your last prescription