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Important things to remember while taking warfarin

Patient Education
Last reviewed

Things to remember:

  • Take your warfarin exactly as you are told.
  • Get your blood tested as told.
  • Check with your care team before you change, start, or stop taking any medicines or herbal products.
  • Talk to your care team before making big changes with:
    o The food you eat
    o Your lifestyle
    o Your activity level
  • Limit or stop drinking alcohol.
  • Do not take 2 doses at the same time to make up for a missed dose, unless told to do so.
    o Write down the day you missed your dose.
  • Tell anyone giving you medical or dental (teeth) care that you are taking warfarin.
    o Some procedures and surgeries cannot be done if you are on warfarin.
  • Carry a patient identification (ID) card.
  • Wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace.

Call your care team right away if you:

  • Have unusual bleeding or bruising.
  • Get sick or injured.
  • Have signs of a blood clot.
  • Get pregnant or are planning to get pregnant.
  • Miss a dose for 2 or more days.
  • Have a procedure or surgery coming up.
    o You may need to stop warfarin. Your care team will make a plan for your warfarin.