Coumadin® is a blood thinner. We use it to prevent and treat blood clots. Often we are confused about Coumadin® because it is a complicated drug that requires a lot of monitoring.
It is monitored using a simple blood test called the PT or INR. Our INR goal is a set target, usually between two and three for most indications.
Watch the video below, or Read More.
So we use this blood test for INR to see how you are doing on Coumadin® as well as adjust dosage if necessary.
There are three important things to remember about Coumadin®. First, the dosing can be complicated. Because it is a slow drug to kick in, it often takes time to find the therapeutic target we are aiming for. So I tell my patients that dose adjustments are typically done on a weekly basis. That is to say that we often monitor people every one, two or three weeks and make dose adjustments accordingly.
The second important thing is to understand how Coumadin® relates to your diet. Often we are cautioned not to eat leafy vegetables because they contain a lot of vitamin K (a vitamin that plays an important role in blood clotting). But I’m reminded of a story of a doctor who was a vegetarian and needed to take Coumadin®; he could not avoid eating leafy vegetables. So I tell my patients to regulate what they eat, eat a constant and consistent amount of leafy vegetables so that the levels of vitamin K you take in can be countered by the amount of Coumadin® you take.
***
Related posts:
Need help and can't find anywhere to get it? Come get safe 
