Get Informed: Coumadin
Active Ingredient(s)
Warfarin
What does it do?
This product is primarily used to prevent and/or treat blood clots. It works by reducing production of Vitamin K dependent clotting factors.
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Mar-13 2:28 AM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Mar-12 9:01 PM
Other Names
- Coumadin
- Warfarin
- Warfarin Sodium
- Jantoven
- Warfarin Potassium
- Coumadin Sodium
- Marevan
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- X
Black Box Warning
This product has a black box related to its bleeding risk.
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 08 Jun 1954
- Est US Patients*
- 2,141,000
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Coumadin or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Coumadin Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
- Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Coumadin interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.
What is Coumadin used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 14,200 patients that use Coumadin (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Blood Thinners | 97% | 
|
| Stroke Prevention | 71% |
|
| Atrial Fibrillation | 59% |
|
| Deep Venous Thrombosis | 14% |
|
| Heart Valve Problems | 14% |
|
| Pulmonary Embolism | 9% |
|
| Clotting Disorder | 5% | 
|
| Other | 3% | 
|
How well does Coumadin work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 14,200 users taking Coumadin (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iGuard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 78%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Coumadin outweigh the bad things.
- 16%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Coumadin.
Common Side Effects of Coumadin
iGuard regularly polls our more than 14,200 users taking Coumadin (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
33% of patients experience side-effects on Coumadin
7% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Coumadin
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Bruising
-
Bleeding
-
Fatigue
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Altered Taste/Smell, Bone/Joint Pain, Cold Sensitivity, Diarrhea, Dizziness, Drowsiness, Dryness, Hair Loss, Headache, Irregular/Heavy Periods, Itch/Rash, Nausea/Vomiting, Nose Bleeds, Numbness/Tingling, Skin/Nail Problems, Slow Wound Healing, Swelling/Edema, Weight Gain
Global Patient Feedback for Coumadin (Warfarin) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
Can taking CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) and EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids) have an adverse reaction while on Warfarin medication? The EFAs contain the following ingredients: Flax Seed, Sesame Seed, Safflower, Sunflower and Borage Oils.
51 year old female.
52 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-02-12 11:12:02
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Warfarin interacts with many prescription medicines and herbal supplements, including several of the oils you have listed. Make sure your physician knows you are taking these medications/supplements. It is important to make sure your warfarin is dosed based on the lab values you have while taking these medications if you are going to continue taking them. Be sure to discuss your use of these supplements with the doctor or healthcare professional who is managing your Warfarin. If you make any changes to your supplements - either adjusting the doses, adding new ones or stopping them - please follow up with your doctor to have your warfarin dose and lab values evaluated.
Posted: 2010-02-17 23:59:01
Question/Comment:
Started warfarin two months ago. primarily because of atrial fibrilation initial doses way too high. Nose bleed, huge blotches on hands and feet. Reduced dosage to 2.5 daily moderate problems, with bowels, headaches (think interaction) on a lot of other medicines checking weekly to try to get to proper dosage. Don't know if is doing any good or not. Feel less well than before.
85 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-02-07 17:49:47
Question/Comment:
I have been taking warfarin since july 2008, after I got a second blood clot, what I want to know is, is it safe to get pregnant and does anyone else have problems with swollen painful legs and freezing cold feet? I found it is worse in the cold weather, is this normal?
30 year old Female – Source: iGuard United Kingdom
Posted: 2010-01-31 14:51:51
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Before you become pregnant, you should discuss alternative drug options for controlling your blood clot condition. In general warfarin will not be safe for your pregnancy. There are a couple medications that are available that are safe during medications, such as Lovenox. With some clotting disorders, the physician will switch you to Lovenox when you decide to try to conceive. Your other symptoms should be reported to your doctor as well a there could be other underlying causes.
Posted: 2010-02-02 22:28:48
Question/Comment:
I am a 65 yr old woman, just had aortic valve replaced 2 weeks ago, and keep getting hard pounding in my chest at times, is this the Warfarin I am taking?
65 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-11-28 01:55:00
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Warfarin does have many side effects including chest pain and hypotension (lowering of blood pressure), which could cause your heart to rebound and beat faster - however these are not common side effects of warfarin. Since you had major heart surgery recently, you should get a full medical evaluation and report your symptoms to your doctor right away. This will keep you safe and ensure there is not an underlying problem with your new valve or other condition.
Posted: 2009-12-01 13:20:07
Answer/Reply:
I had AVR surgery 5 years ago. I had a St. Jude mechanical valve implanted. For the first six months after surgery I would get a pounding feeling in my chest every time I took a deep breath. If I held my breath the pounding would last for about 15 seconds. My Surgeon said that this would lessen over time and not to worry about it. He was right.
I have been taking Warfarin for 5 years and no side effects yet - except for the very first week after surgery when they were trying to regulate my dosage and got it too high - I had an INR of 7.2 at one point and this made everything ( even water ) taste really terrible - like metallic baking soda. Got the dosage under control and have never had another problem.
I monitor my INR at home with a test meter from Philips Remote Cardiac Services. I do my own blood test once a week and call the results in to the service then they fax the results to my doctor. The doctor calls if he thinks I should change the dosage but I already know what to do and usally have already adjusted the doasage myself to what he recommends. We work very well together with this and I have less problems with fluctuating INR levels. My insurance pays for the whole thing and I don't even have a co-pay for the testing. Insurance will only pay for this if you have a mechanical heart valve I call Philips when I need more test strips or needles and they Fedex the next day.
50 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-07 14:22:06
Question/Comment:
my levels are in straights and i dont suffer any of the side effects listed other than feeling like im freezing, but my fingers and toes go numb. does anyone else have this problem??
20 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-10-11 09:59:12
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Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
256
Patient Comments about
Coumadin