Warfarin counselling Flashcards

1
Q

Contraindications

A
  • Pregnancy
  • Significant risk of major bleeding
  • Active bleeding
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2
Q

How the treatment works

A
  • Thins the blood to treat or prevent blood clots
  • It does this by blocking vitamin K - the vitamin used by the body to make proteins that cause the blood to clot
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3
Q

Treatment course and how its taken

A
  • Once daily tablet (usually in the evening)
  • Usually prescribed for 3 months for a DVT, 6 months for a PE, and lifelong for AF
  • Dose changes take 2-3 days to take effect
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4
Q

Monitoring required

A
  • Started at 5mg each evening
  • INR on days 3,4 and 5 - warfarin dosing charts tell you how to adjust the dose
  • Then regular INR checks by anticoagulation clinic - regularity determined by INR stability (patient will be given anticoagulation book)
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5
Q

Monitoring required

A
  • Started at 5mg each evening
  • INR on days 3,4 and 5 - warfarin dosing charts tell you how to adjust the dose
  • Then regular INR checks by anticoagulation clinic - regularity determined by INR stability (patient will be given anticoagulation book)
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6
Q

Side effects

A
  • Bleeding - seek medical advice if you have significant head injury, prolonged nose bleeds, unusual headaches, blood in urine/stool/vomit, black stool, unexplained or severe bleeding
  • Also diarrhoea, rash, hair loss, nausea
  • Many interactions (mostly with P450 cytochrome inducers/inhibitors) - patients should avoid liver, spinach, cranberry juice, alcohol binges, NSAIDs/aspirin
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