Warfarin Counselling Flashcards
How does it work
AC - helps thin blood, making it less likely that blood clots form in your blood vessels
How to take it
Take at the same time each day to keep levels steady
If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However if you don’t remember until the next day, miss the forgotten dose
Monitoring
INR - a measure of how long it takes you blood to clot
1 - in normal people
As you are at an increased risk of clotting, the target range for you will be higher
-if your target is 2-3, it will take 2-3x more time for your blood to clot compared to someone not taking warfarin
Initially we will monitor your INR every
-3-4 days until 2 consecutive readings are within range
-twice weekly for 1-2weeks until 2 consecutive readings are within range
Testing will then increase to longer time periods
During this time, we’ll adjust your dose so it falls within the target range
Bleeding SE
The main SE is an increased risk of bleeding
It’s normal to bleed more easily on warfarin as your blood is thinner
So
-periods may become heavier and longer
-may bleed for longer (gums, skin, nosebleeds)
-may bruise more easily
If this bothers you, tell your doctor so we can reassess your dose
However we encourage you to go to A&E if you notice
-blood in your pee or poo
-blood in vomit or sputum
-bleeds from injuries that just don’t stop
-severe headaches, seizures, numbness, tingling, may be indicating of bleed in brain
Stop taking warfarin
Lifestyle advice
Vitamin K reverses the action of warfarin
-avoid consuming large amounts of foods high in VitK (broccoli, kale, spinach, leafy greens)
Large changes in alcohol intake can also affect INR
Contraception - avoid COCP due to increased risk of clots
Yellow booklets and alert card
To help keep track of your INR results, we will give you a yellow booklet
-targets
-target range
Patient information leaflet - reinforce information shared
