Generic name: Warfarin Injection [ WAR-far-in ]
Brand name: Coumadin
Drug class: Coumarins and indandiones

Uses of Warfarin Injection:

• It is used to treat blood clots.
• It is used to thin the blood so that clots will not form.
• It is used to lower the chance of heart attack, stroke, and death in some people.

What do I need to tell my doctor BEFORE I take Warfarin Injection?

• If you have an allergy to warfarin or any other part of warfarin injection.
• If you are allergic to any drugs like this one, any other drugs, foods, or other substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had, like rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other signs.
• If you have any of these health problems: Blood vessel problems like, aneurysm or dissecting aorta; bleeding problems; bleeding in the brain; active ulcer; bleeding of the stomach, bowel, urinary tract, genitals, or respiratory tract; blood problems; heart infection; low platelet count; pericarditis, recent surgery of the eye, brain, or spine; or very high blood pressure.
• If you have any of these health problems: A certain health problem called pre-eclampsia, seizures during pregnancy (eclampsia), induction of labor, or threatened spontaneous abortion.
• If you are having surgery, talk with your doctor.
• If you will be getting spinal anesthesia or a spinal treatment.
• If you have had spinal anesthesia, surgery, or any spinal care, talk with your doctor.
• If you know that you will not take the drug as you have been told.
• If you know that you will not take the drug or have your blood work (PT/INR) checked as you have been told.
• If you have thrombocytopenia caused by heparin.
• If you are pregnant.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with warfarin injection.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take warfarin injection with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while I take Warfarin Injection?

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take warfarin injection. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Use care to prevent injury and avoid falls or crashes.
• If you fall or hurt yourself, or if you hit your head, call your doctor right away. Talk with your doctor even if you feel fine.
• You may bleed more easily. Be careful and avoid injury. Use a soft toothbrush and an electric razor.
• If you drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit often, talk with your doctor.
• Talk with your doctor before using products that have aspirin, blood thinners, garlic, ginseng, ginkgo, ibuprofen or like products, pain drugs, or vitamin E.
• Certain foods can affect your PT/INR levels. Follow the diet plan that your doctor or other health care provider told you about.
• Talk with your doctor about the amount of vitamin K in your diet. Vitamin K may change how warfarin injection works. You do not have to avoid all foods with vitamin K. However, you will need to keep the amount of foods with vitamin K in your diet about the same from day to day. Many foods have vitamin K in them. This includes some green, leafy vegetables; broccoli; liver; and certain vegetable oils. Get a list of foods that have vitamin K in them from your doctor. Do not make big changes in your normal diet without talking with your doctor.
• Talk with your doctor before taking multivitamins, natural products, and diet aids. These may have vitamin K in them.
• Have patient safety card with you at all times.
• Call your doctor right away if you have diarrhea, a fever, or an infection.
• If you start or stop smoking, talk with your doctor. How much drug you take may need to be changed.
• A very bad and sometimes deadly health problem involving the skin (calciphylaxis) has happened with warfarin injection. This has happened in people with and without very bad kidney problems. Talk with the doctor.
• If you are of Asian descent, use warfarin injection with care. You could have more side effects.
• If you are 60 or older, use warfarin injection with care. You could have more side effects.
• This medicine may cause harm to the unborn baby or loss of the unborn baby if you take it while you are pregnant.
• If you are able to get pregnant, a pregnancy test will be done to show that you are NOT pregnant before starting warfarin injection. Talk with your doctor.
• Use birth control that you can trust to prevent pregnancy while taking warfarin injection and for at least 1 month after stopping warfarin injection.
• If you get pregnant while taking warfarin injection or within 1 month after your last dose, call your doctor right away.
• Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about any risks to your baby.

How is this medicine (Warfarin Injection) best taken?

Use warfarin injection as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• Use warfarin injection exactly as you have been told, even if you feel well. This is important for the drug to work right and to lower the risk of bleeding.
• Take warfarin injection at the same time of day.
• To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.
• It is given as a shot into a vein.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Call your doctor to find out what to do.

What are some side effects that I need to call my doctor about right away?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Weakness on 1 side of the body, trouble speaking or thinking, change in balance, drooping on one side of the face, or blurred eyesight.
• Chest pain.
• Very bad dizziness or passing out.
• Swelling, warmth, numbness, change of color, or pain in a leg or arm.
• Very bad headache.
• Feeling very tired or weak.
• Swelling.
• Change in skin color to black or purple.
• Death of skin tissue may rarely happen. This can lead to loss of the body part (amputation) and can be deadly. Call your doctor right away if you have pain, color, or temperature change in any part of the body.
• If you have kidney problems or have had kidney problems in the past, talk with your doctor. Kidney problems may happen. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of kidney problems like not able to pass urine, change in how much urine is passed, blood in the urine, or a big weight gain.

What are some other side effects of Warfarin Injection?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if you have any side effects that bother you or do not go away.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

How do I store and/or throw out Warfarin Injection?

• If you need to store warfarin injection at home, talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about how to store it.

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

• If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• Keep a list of all your drugs (prescription, natural products, vitamins, OTC) with you. Give this list to your doctor.
• Talk with the doctor before starting any new drug, including prescription or OTC, natural products, or vitamins.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.
• Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. Check with your pharmacist. If you have any questions about warfarin injection, please talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the antidote for warfarin?
• Is warfarin used as rat poison?
• Does cranberry juice help prevent a UTI?
• Why does warfarin cause purple toe syndrome?
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• Why are Warfarin tablets color-coded?
• Is your blood really thinner with warfarin?

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Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer