Warfarin sodium (
Coumadin®,
Jantoven®) is a prescription anticoagulant used to prevent and treat blood clots due to various causes. It comes in tablet form and is typically taken once a day.
It is important to understand that warfarin does not "dissolve" or break down blood clots (only special "clot buster" medications that must be given in the hospital can do this). It prevents them from forming. When used to treat a blood clot, warfarin keeps the clot formation in check, allowing the body's natural processes to break down the clot.
Before you start taking warfarin sodium, medication information should be discussed with your healthcare provider (in order to help ensure a safe treatment process). Even though warfarin can be a life-saving drug, it can also cause potentially life-threatening side effects. Your healthcare provider must monitor you closely on a regular basis, as taking too little or too much of the medication can lead to serious problems.
(Click Warfarin for more warfarin sodium information, including more details on how the medication works, dosing tips and precautions, and a list of potential side effects of the medicine.)
