Does warfarin contain arsenic?
Question posted by rjm5242 on 29 March 2013
Last updated on 1 April 2013
Answers
No arsenic. Each Warfarin sodium tablet intended for oral administration contains Warfarin sodium clathrates equivalent to 1 mg or 2 mg or 2.5 mg or 3 mg or 4 mg or 5 mg or 6 mg or 7.5 mg or 10 mg of Warfarin sodium. In addition each tablet contains the inactive ingredients hydroxypropyl cellulose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate and pregelatinized starch. Additionally each 1 mg tablet contains D&C red no. 6 barium lake, 2 mg tablet contains FD&C blue no. 2 aluminum lake and FD&C red no. 40 aluminum lake, 2.5 mg tablet contains D&C yellow no. 10 aluminum lake and FD&C blue no. 1 aluminum lake, 3 mg tablet contains FD&C yellow no. 6 aluminum lake, FD&C blue no. 2 aluminum lake and FD&C red no. 40 aluminum lake, 4 mg tablet contains FD&C blue no. 1 aluminum lake, 5 mg tablet contains FD&C yellow no. 6 aluminum lake, 6 mg tablet contains FD&C yellow no. 6 aluminum lake and FD&C blue no. 1 aluminum lake, 7.5 mg tablet contains D&C yellow no. 10 aluminum lake and FD&C yellow no.6 aluminum lake and 10 mg tablet is dye free.
Perhaps the person posting the question was thinking of aluminum but the word arsenic came out instead? That's a possibility, seeing all the inactive ingredients now;
Great answer DzooB, as usual. I didn't get your answer to my PQ. It was taken down.
Lara
Many people describe warfarin as "rat poison" and warfarin IS an ingredient in rat poisons, it causes the rodents to bleed to death internally. It is the effect of the warfarin on the blood clotting mechanisms that kills rats though not any arsenic content. I'm suspecting this person has heard the "rat poison" reference and perhaps thought of arsenic? Just a guess.
Sent you a new PQ Mac!
I did not know that Dzoo! You really do learn something new every day ;)
Why do you ask that? Arsenic is a heavy metal poison and is not used in medication. The generic name of a drug tells you what's in it. Warfarin is warfarin plain and simple.
Related topics
arsenic poisoning, arsenic trioxide, warfarin, aluminum
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