Key facts about Warfarin
What dosages is Warfarin available in?
Warfarin is available as a 1 mg, 2 mg, 2.5 mg, 3 mg, 4 mg, 5 mg, 6 mg, 7.5 mg, and 10 mg oral tablet.
What is Warfarin used for?
Warfarin is a vitamin K antagonist used for prevention and treatment blood clots in the veins, prevention and treatment blood clots linked to atrial fibrillation (AFib) or heart valve replacement, prevention of more blood clots and to lower risk of death after a heart attack.
How does Warfarin work?
Warfarin is a blood thinner. It’s also known as a vitamin K antagonist, meaning it stops vitamin K from working properly. Your body typically uses vitamin K to make blood clots. Warfarin prevents blood clots from forming by blocking vitamin K.
How do I take Warfarin?
Warfarin is typically taken by mouth once daily. Your provider will adjust the dose based on your international normalized ratio (INR). The usual maintenance dose of Warfarin ranges from 2 mg to 10 mg once daily.
Is it safe for me to take Warfarin?
Warfarin is a safe and effective treatment when used for FDA licensed indications. However, like all medications, they may give you unwanted side effects. You should always discuss potential side effects with your physician to ensure the medication is suitable and right for you. You should not use this medication if you are pregnant, have hemorrhagic tendencies or blood dyscrasias, recent or contemplated surgery, bleeding tendencies associated with active ulceration or overt bleeding, threatened abortion, eclampsia and preeclampsia. Inadequate laboratory facilities, are unsupervised with senility, alcoholism, or psychosis or other lack of patient cooperation, had a spinal puncture and other diagnostic or therapeutic procedures with potential for
uncontrollable bleeding, or major regional, lumbar block anesthesia, malignant hypertension and known hypersensitivity to Warfarin or to any other components of this product.
Warfarin Common Side Effects
Common side effects of Warfarin include:
- Bleeding
- Bruising
- Rash
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Chills
- Itching
Warfarin Serious Side Effects
Serious side effects are rare with Warfarin. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following. Severe bleeding: feeling faint, lightheaded, dizziness, vomiting blood, bloody or dark-colored stools, severe stomach pain or discomfort Calcium build-up in the blood vessels (calciphylaxis): skin discoloration, skin sores, painful lumps in the skin, skin infections Skin or tissue death and gangrene: skin discoloration (especially darkened skin color), swelling, blisters, sudden and severe pain in skin, numbness
Effects of other drugs, drug classes and over-the-counter products on Warfarin
The following medications may interact with Warfarin:
- Drugs that affect bleeding or clotting
Who makes Warfarin?
Various FDA-approved generic manufacturers
Is Warfarin safe in pregnancy?
Warfarin should not be taken if you are pregnant or suspect you are pregnant.













