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Drug Details

Warfarin

• Drug Class Description
  Coumarin anticoagulants.
• Generic Name
  Generic Monitor international normalised ratio (INR) on a regular basis.
• Presentation
  Tablets, scored, warfarin sodium 1mg (brown), 3mg (blue), 5mg (pink). Available from APS, Cox, Hillcross, Lagap, Norton, Regent.
• Description
  Tablets.
• Indications
  Thromboembolic conditions.
• Adult Dosage
  Initially 10mg daily, adjust daily according to INR.
• Contra Indications
  

  Haemorrhagic conditions. Pregnancy. Peptic ulcer, severe hypertension, bacterial endocarditis.

• Special Precautions
  Impaired renal or hepatic function. Within 24 hours of surgery or labour. Weight changes, acute illness, vitamin K deficiency.
• Interactions
  Aspirin, NSAIDs, oral hypoglycaemics, sulphonamides, amiodarone, quinidine, propafenone, antibiotics (including rifamycins, cefamandole (cephamandole), chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, co-trimoxazole, erythromycin, metronidazole, ofloxacin, sulphonamides), antifungals, antivirals, phenformin, cimetidine, drugs affecting liver enzymes, corticosteroids, imidazole antifungals, tamoxifen. Alcohol. Anabolic steroids, colestyramine (cholestyramine), antiepileptics, simvastatin, thyroxine (levothyroxine), vitamin K.
• Adverse Drug Reactions
  Haemorrhage. Alopecia, rash, diarrhoea, fall in haematocrit. Skin necrosis, jaundice, hepatic dysfunction. Nausea, vomiting, pancreatitis.