A Clearinghouse for Information about Blood Clots (DVT/)PE) and Clotting Disorders (thrombophilia) provided as a public service by the University of North Carolina Blood Research Center

Category: warfarin / coumadin

  • Does Aspirin Prevent Recurrent DVT and PE? – ASPIRE Trial

    Stephan Moll, MD writes… Well, it is not clear whether it does.  A clinically relevant study (ASPIRE study) was published this week (Nov 22nd,2012) in the N Engl J Med  [ref 1].  In patients who had a previous unprovoked (= idiopathic) DVT or PE and who had completed standard length (often considered to be 3-6 months)…

  • INR Self-Testing

    Stephan Moll, MD writes… A detailed, practical discussion on INR self-testing for patients is available here, addressing: Reasons to do INR self-testing Which patients are suitable What INR home monitoring devices are available Whether the devices give reliable INR results Whether insurance companies pay for them

  • How Often Should the INR be Tested?

    Stephan Moll, MD writes… Traditionally, INR testing in patients on warfarin has been recommended by anticoagulation providers in the U.S. to be done at least once every 4 weeks. However, a recent study showed that testing every 3 months is sufficient

  • INR Patient Self-Testing

    Stephan Moll, MD writes… INR testing in patients on warfarin is classically done in a physician’s office or anticoagulation clinic, via (a) i.v. blood draw and central lab testing, or (b) a finger-stick and testing on a POC (point-of-care) device. POC devices give reliable INR results

  • Alcohol and Warfarin or Pradaxa

    A patient may ask: “I am on warfarin.  Is it o.k. for me to drink alcohol?  Does alcohol intake increase the INR?”   Does drinking alcohol change the INR in the patient on warfarin?

  • Alcohol and Blood Thinners (Warfarin, Pradaxa)

    A patient may ask: “I am on warfarin (Coumadin®, Jantoven®).  Is it o.k. for me to drink alcohol?  Does alcohol intake increase the INR?” Does drinking alcohol change the INR in the patient on warfarin?

  • Coumadin Clinics – Finding One Near You

    If you are on warfarin (Coumadin®, Jantoven®) you need to be followed in a structured way to optimize your warfarin therapy and minimize the risk for bleeding and clotting. The “thinness” of your blood needs to be determined on a regular basis with a test called INR (International Normalized Ratio; also referred to as PT, protime,…

  • Anticoagulation Clinics – Finding One for Your Patient

    Patients on warfarin need to be followed in a systematic way to optimize safety and efficacy of therapy [ref 1]. While smaller-volume physician practices may well have appropriate criteria in place, structured anticoagulation clinics often have the expertise and resources for optimal anticoagulation management. The location of a number of anticoagulation clinics in the U.S.…