Patient was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking Warfarin as follows:
- Be cautious about taking OTC vitamin supplements, as they contain vitamin K and can compromise the therapeutic effects of Warfarin. Consuming these OTC products with Vitamin K can result in clot formation.
- Do not discontinue taking this medication without recommendation by your doctor. Abrupt withdrawal from Warfarin intake can result in clot formation and consequent DVT, pulmonary embolism, and development of stroke.
- If you are being scheduled for any surgical procedure, Warfarin must be discontinued, a few days before the scheduled date for surgery. Warfarin can be started back again after the surgical procedure, upon your doctor’s recommendation. Discuss with your doctors and other health care team members regarding your schedule on discontinuing Warfarin and starting back on it.
- Watch out closely for any signs of clot formation and DVT, such as pain in the calf muscle, episode of sudden cough and shortness of breath, and any chest pain. Report to your doctor immediately, so that, a change in plan could be considered.
- Patients taking Warfarin can occasionally present with episodes of internal bleeding, resulting in coughing up of blood, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, red colored urine, bleeding per rectum, and increased formation of ecchymosis and bleeding into the skin. Watch out closely for any such signs of bleeding and report to your doctor immediately, so that, a change in plan could be considered. Be aware of any symptoms of sudden weakness, faintness, or dizziness that can signify internal bleeds.
