Warfarin is an oral anticoagulant that is used to prevent and treat blood clots. It is prescribed for people who have had a condition caused by a blood clot, such as a stroke, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or pulmonary embolism (PE) . Warfarin is also prescribed for people who are at an increased risk of developing harmful blood clots, such as those with heart disease, atrial fibrillation, or a history of blood clots.

Warfarin works by blocking one of the enzymes that uses vitamin K to produce clotting factors, which disrupts the clotting process and makes it take longer for the blood to clot. The aim of warfarin therapy is to decrease the blood’s tendency to clot, but not stop it clotting completely. The dose of warfarin must be carefully monitored and, if necessary, adjusted to ensure that the blood is not too thin or too thick.

It is important to note that warfarin can cause severe bleeding that can be life-threatening and even cause death. Bleeding is more likely during warfarin treatment for people over 65 years of age, and it is also more likely during the first month of warfarin treatment. Bleeding is also more likely to occur for people who take high doses of warfarin or take this medication for a long time. Therefore, it is important to take warfarin exactly as directed by the doctor in charge of your care. Regular blood tests are required to monitor the effectiveness of the medication and to adjust the dose if necessary.

In summary, warfarin is used to prevent and treat blood clots in people who have had a condition caused by a blood clot or are at an increased risk of developing harmful blood clots. It works by blocking one of the enzymes that uses vitamin K to produce clotting factors, which disrupts the clotting process and makes it take longer for the blood to clot. However, warfarin can cause severe bleeding, so it is important to take it exactly as directed and to have regular blood tests to monitor the effectiveness of the medication and adjust the dose if necessary.