Warfarin Institute of America
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Helpful Definitions for Understanding Coumadin® (warfarin)
Anticoagulant - A substance that decreases the blood’s ability to clot
Atrial fibrillation - An irregular heartbeat that is a risk factor for a stroke
Blood thinners - A term used for drugs that don’t actually “thin” the blood, but makes the blood less likely to form clots
Blood clot - A clump of blood cells
Blood vessels - A network of tubes that carry blood to different parts of the body
Brand drug - A drug that is manufactured and distributed by only one company. An example is Coumadin® sold only by Bristol Myers Squibb.
Coagulation - A natural process of the body to form blood clots.
Coumadin® (warfarin) - A drug that decreases the blood’s ability to clot
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) - A blood clot in a vessel of the leg
Embolism - A blood clot that travels from where it was originally formed to other parts of the body
Generic Drug - An equivalent drug that is manufactured to have the same safety and efficacy as a brand name drug at lesser cost
Hemorrhage - A rapid loss of a lot of blood, either internally or externally (bleeding)
International Normalized Ratio (INR) - A test used by healthcare providers to monitor Coumadin® (warfarin) to ensure that patients remain in their therapeutic range
Myocardial Infarction - An area of heart muscle that dies or is irreversibly damaged when blood flow to the heart is interrupted by a clot or other blockage. Also known as a “heart attack.”
Protime (PT) - A test used by healthcare providers to monitor Coumadin® (warfarin) to ensure that the patients remain in their therapeutic range. The should always be converted to the INR. If your healthcare provider is giving you the PT in seconds, you are being given substandard care.
Pulmonary embolism (PE) - A blood clot that travels to a blood vessel in the lungs.
Stroke - Injury to the brain cells when blood flow to the brain is interrupted by a clot or other blockage.
Therapeutic Range - A desired level of anticoagulation that achieves protection from blood clots. This is given as an acceptable low INR number and an acceptable high INR number.
Thrombus - A blood clot that remains in a blood vessel
Vitamin K - A vitamin that is used by the body to make blood clots. It can be found in a variety of sources including green leafy vegetables.
Warfarin - A drug that decreases the blood’s ability to clot. It is the generic name of Coumadin®
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Last updated January 1, 2006
