Precautions and Warnings With Warfarin

Talk to your healthcare provider about precautions and warnings with warfarin to help ensure a safe treatment process. The side effects can be life-threatening; even small changes in your dosage can lead to dangerous problems, such as strokes and internal bleeding. You should not take warfarin if you are pregnant, have malignant hypertension, or have a bleeding disorder.

Warfarin Sodium Drug Information

What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Taking Warfarin?

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking warfarin sodium (Coumadin^®, Jantoven^®) if you have:

A bleeding disorder
Intestinal or stomach ulcers or bleeding
Bleeding in the brain
An aneurysm
Inflammation of the sac the surrounds the heart (called the pericardium)
A bacterial infection of the endocardium (the inner layer of the heart)
A condition (such as a mental illness) that limits the ability to follow instructions carefully
Had a negative reaction to heparin
Liver disease, such as liver failure, cirrhosis, or hepatitis
Kidney disease, such as kidney failure
High blood pressure
A clotting disorder known as protein C deficiency
Polycythemia vera (a condition involving excess red blood cells)
Vasculitis (a blood vessel disorder)
Diabetes
An indwelling bladder catheter
Any allergies, including allergies to food, dyes, or preservatives.

Also, let your healthcare provider know if you:

Will be having surgery or spinal anesthesia or puncture (such as a spinal tap)
Are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
Are breastfeeding.

Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other medications you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

(Precautions and Warnings With Warfarin Continued: Page 2)