Indications and dose
Prophylaxis of embolisation in rheumatic heart disease and atrial fibrillation,
Prophylaxis after insertion of prosthetic heart valve,
Prophylaxis and treatment of venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism,
Transient ischaemic attacks
By mouth
Initially 5–10 mg, to be taken on day 1; subsequent doses dependent on the prothrombin time, reported as INR (international normalised ratio), a lower induction dose can be given over 3–4 weeks in patients who do not require rapid anticoagulation, elderly patients to be given a lower induction dose; maintenance 3–9 mg daily, to be taken at the same time each day.
Side effects
For all vitamin K antagonists
Common or very common
Haemorrhage
Rare or very rare
Alopecia; nausea; vomiting
Frequency not known
Blue toe syndrome; CNS haemorrhage; diarrhoea; fever; haemothorax; jaundice; pancreatitis; skin necrosis (increased risk in patients with protein C or protein S deficiency); skin reactions
Side effects
For warfarin sodium
For warfarin sodium
Frequency not known
Calciphylaxis; hepatic function abnormal
