What do you need to know about Coumadin monitoring?
What do you need to know about Coumadin monitoring?
What is Coumadin monitoring? Coumadin (generic name warfarin) is an oral anticoagulant drug (often called a blood thinner). People at risk for blood clots need anticoagulant therapy to reduce the risk of blood clots.
What kind of Doctor does coumadin blood work?
Depending on the specific condition, cardiac electrophysiologists, vascular specialists, and even primary care doctors may manage your care and order Coumadin monitoring. Your blood may be taken by a nurse or a phlebotomist, a specialist trained in doing blood draws.
What are the side effects of taking Coumadin?
When prescribing Coumadin, your doctor must ensure the dose is high enough to delay clotting time, but not so high that it takes too long for your blood to clot when necessary. If it takes too long for your blood to clot, you can develop uncontrolled bleeding—the most dangerous Coumadin side effect.
How often should I have my blood tested for warfarin?
When you first start warfarin, you may need to have blood tests every few days or weekly. Once your dose is stable, blood tests are usually done every two to four weeks, sometimes longer. If your dose changes you may need to have your INR tested more often. It is very important to have your blood drawn…
Do you have to be monitored for Coumadin?
Coumadin (warfarin) has to be monitored on a routine basis to ensure that the patient is receiving the correct dosage. Home monitoring is one of a few options for patients to consider while they are using warfarin for anticoagulation therapy.
Which is the best INR test for Coumadin?
Coumadin level monitoring for Doctors and Patients taking Coumadin or other generic warfarin anticoagulation medication. A PT/INR tester for home use, the CoaguChek® gives accurate anticoagulation results in less than a minute.
How can you test for warfarin in blood?
If the dose of warfarin is too high, the patient may be at risk of serious bleeding. It can be monitored by drawing blood from a vein and sending the blood to an accredited laboratory to test, or it can be monitored by testing blood from a fingerstick with an INR test meter outside of a laboratory.
Depending on the specific condition, cardiac electrophysiologists, vascular specialists, and even primary care doctors may manage your care and order Coumadin monitoring. Your blood may be taken by a nurse or a phlebotomist, a specialist trained in doing blood draws.