Coumadin® (warfarin) Do’s and Don’t’s

Do…

• Take your Coumadin® in the afternoon or evening
• Tell us about any new prescription or over the counter medicine before you take it
• Have your INR/protime checked within 5-7 days of starting or stopping any new medicine (especially antibiotics)
• Keep your dietary habits consistent, especially with green vegetables and other vitamin K containing foods. If you eat a small salad for lunch, eat the same size salad every day.
• Call if you are ill with frequent vomiting, diarrhea, or marked change in diet or appetite
• Floss and brush daily to keep your gums healthy and free of bleeding
• Call if your stools turn coal black or if you have bright red blood in your stool
• If you use generic warfarin, make sure it always comes from the same manufacturer as shown on the pill bottle

Don’t…

• Don’t skip any doses. Take the dose later in the same day if you forget
• Don’t double your dose the next day if you miss a dose
• Don’t miss your INR/Protime appointments
• Don’t use aspirin, Plavix, Effient, Brilinta, Advil, Alleve, Motrin, Alka Seltzer, Pepto Bismol etc without talking with us first
• Don’t use Coenzyme Q10, danshen, dong quai, garlic pills, Ginkgo biloba, or St. John’s wort without telling us first
• Don’t use more than 6 Tylenol tablets per week
• Don’t take multivitamins containing Vitamin K
• Don’t eat large or variable amounts of spinach, kale, brussels sprouts, broccoli, collard greens, green tea (regular tea is ok), beef or pork liver, cauliflower, chick peas, spinach, seaweed, turnip greens, cabbage (coleslaw), soybean or canola oil. Small, regular and consistent amounts of these foods can be acceptable.
• Don’t eat snack foods containing Olestra®
• Don’t get pregnant while taking Coumadin® (warfarin)
• Don’t use alcohol if possible. If you drink, have the same small amount every day. Binges are very dangerous.
• Don’t go off Coumadin® (warfarin) for surgery or dental work without talking with us first