Medications and Drugs

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Brand Names: Coumadin, Jantoven

Generic Name: warfarin (Pronunciation: WAR far in)

• What is warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)?
• What are the possible side effects of warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)?
• What is the most important information I should know about warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)?
• How should I take warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Coumadin, Jantoven)?
• What happens if I overdose (Coumadin, Jantoven)?
• What should I avoid while taking warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)?
• What other drugs will affect warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)?
• Where can I get more information?

What is warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)?

Warfarin is an anticoagulant (blood thinner). Warfarin reduces the formation of blood clots.

Warfarin is used to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots in veins and arteries.

Warfarin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Coumadin 1 mg

round, pink, imprinted with Dupont, COUMADIN 1

Coumadin 10 mg

round, white, imprinted with DuPont, COUMADIN 10

Coumadin 2 mg

round, lavender, imprinted with DuPont, COUMADIN 2

Coumadin 2.5 mg

round, green, imprinted with DuPont, COUMADIN 2 1/2

Coumadin 3 mg

round, beige, imprinted with DuPont, COUMADIN 3

Coumadin 4 mg

round, blue, imprinted with DuPont, COUMADIN 4

Coumadin 5 mg

round, peach, imprinted with DuPont, COUMADIN 5

Coumadin 6 mg

round, turquoise, imprinted with DuPont, COUMADIN 6

Coumadin 7.5 mg

round, yellow, imprinted with DuPont, COUMADIN 7/12

Warfarin 1 mg-TAR

oblong, pink, imprinted with 1, WARFARIN TARO

Warfarin 10 mg-BAR

oval, white, imprinted with barr, 835 10

Warfarin 1mg-BAR

elliptical, pink, imprinted with barr, 831 1

Warfarin 2 mg-APH

square, lavender, imprinted with INV 310, 2

Warfarin 2 mg-BAR

oval, lavender, imprinted with barr, 869 2

Warfarin 2 mg-TAR

oblong, lavender, imprinted with T32

Warfarin 2.5 mg-APH

square, green, imprinted with INV 311, 2.5

Warfarin 2.5 mg-BAR

oval, green, imprinted with barr, 832 2 1/2

Warfarin 2.5 mg-TAR

oblong, green, imprinted with T33

Warfarin 3 mg-BAR

oval, tan, imprinted with barr, 925 3

Warfarin 3 mg-TAR

oblong, beige, imprinted with 3, WARFARIN TARO

Warfarin 4 mg-BAR

oval, blue, imprinted with barr, 874 4

Warfarin 4 mg-TAR

oblong, blue, imprinted with 4, WARFARIN TARO

Warfarin 5 mg-APH

square, peach, imprinted with INV 313, 5

Warfarin 5 mg-BAR

oval, peach, imprinted with barr, 833 5

Warfarin 5 mg-TAR

oblong, peach, imprinted with T35

Warfarin 6 mg-BAR

oval, blue, imprinted with barr, 926 6

Warfarin 6 mg-TAR

oblong, turquoise, imprinted with 6, WARFARIN TARO

Warfarin 7.5 mg-BAR

oval, yellow, imprinted with barr, 834 7 1/2

Warfarin 7.5 mg-TAR

oblong, yellow, imprinted with 7 1-2, WARFARIN TARO

What are the possible side effects of warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• skin changes or discoloration anywhere on your body;
• purple toes or fingers;
• pain in your stomach, back, or sides;
• low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• diarrhea, fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
• easy bruising or bleeding that will not stop;
• blood in your urine;
• black, bloody, or tarry stools;
• nosebleeds, bleeding gums, coughing up blood;
• feeling weak or light-headed;
• sudden headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance;
• sudden leg or foot pain; or
• sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body.

Less serious side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;
• gas and bloating; or
• hair loss.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)?

This medication can cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Do not use if you are pregnant. Use an effective form of birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.

Never take a double dose of this medication.

If you need to have a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) or any type of surgery, you may need to temporarily stop using warfarin. Be sure the surgeon knows ahead of time that you are using this medication.

Carry an ID card or wear a medical alert bracelet stating that you are taking warfarin, in case of emergency. Any doctor, dentist, or emergency medical care provider who treats you should know that you are taking warfarin.

Warfarin interacts with many other drugs, and these interactions can be dangerous, even fatal. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

You should not take acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin, or NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) unless your doctor has told you to. NSAIDs include celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Voltaren), ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), indomethacin, naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene), and others.These medicines may affect blood clotting and could cause serious bleeding in your stomach or intestines.

Avoid sudden changes in your diet. Vitamin K decreases the effects of warfarin. Large amounts of vitamin K are found in foods such as liver, broccoli, brussels sprouts, spinach, Swiss chard, coriander, collards, cabbage, and other green leafy vegetables. Do not change the amount of these foods in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

Avoid eating cranberries, drinking cranberry juice, or taking cranberry herbal products.

Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of this medication.