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

Tag: warfarin

  • Aspirin Prevents Recurrent DVT and PE – WARFASA Study

    Stephan Moll, MD writes… A clinically very relevant study (WARFASA) published today (May 24, 2012) in the New England Journal of Medicine [ref 1] shows that aspirin, 100 mg per day, reduces the risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with unprovoked (= idiopathic) VTE, who have completed 6 to 18 months of anticoagulant therapy, without…

  • 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

  • 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?

  • Blood or Organ Donation: Being on Blood Thinners or Having a Thrombophilia

     “I am on warfarin (Coumadin®).  Can I donate blood?”  No.  A person on a blood thinner (anticoagulant), like warfarin, will not be accepted as a blood donor

  • Minor Cuts and Nosebleeds on Anticoagulants

    When a patient on warfarin bleeds more than usual it is, of course, important to make sure that the INR is not supra-therapeutic.  And, if the INR is too high, warfarin therapy needs to be adjusted and other treatment (vitamin K, etc) may have to be employed depending on the degree of INR elevation and…

  • Minor Cuts and Bleeding on Blood Thinners

    When a patient on warfarin bleeds more than usual it is important to make sure that the INR is not above the desired (therapeutic) range.  If the INR is too high, i.e. the blood is too thin, warfarin may have to be interrupted; if it is very high vitamin K sometimes has to be given…