2007-12-16 09:40:58 · 8 answers · asked by margaret w 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
You need the warfarin to stop laying down new clot.
You formed the clot (deep vein thrombosis) because you were in a relatively clot-prone state - either your blood was hypercoagulable, you were inactive, or you suffered some leg trauma. Whatever the cause, you need to stop forming new clot and let your body lyse the existing one.
The warfarin (also called Coumadin) neither makes your blood thinner (more watery, less viscous) nor dissolves (lyses) the existing clot.
Thinning is a euphemism for being less clot-prone (thrombogenic).
Your own system will remove the clot over several days to weeks. Warfarin / Coumadin won’t dissolve it.
A few important facts off of the subject of the question that you probably already know:
(1) No medications, even over the counter ones, without your doctor's knowledge and permission, especially no aspirin or drugs like Motrin. Your doctor may advise you to take aspirin or not, but don't take it without permission.
(2) Report any bleeding. A little is OK, but report it anyway.
(3) Report any chest pain or breathing difficulties.
(4) Report any signs of new clotting, such as new redness or swelling of the thigh or calf, or new hard, tender cords running up the leg.
2007-12-16 09:46:43 · answer #1 · answered by Yaybob 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Blood thinning is a misnomer. The blood is not physically thinner. Warfarin merely restricts the production of clotting agents in the blood which mean that if you cut yourself when on warfarin...you will not get a scab form so easily, and indeed you may continue to bleed if no compression is applied.
It does not affect an existing clot which hopefully disintegrates in the normal way...but it does inhibit the formation of new clots which may be of danger to the patient.
2007-12-16 09:47:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
warfarin is a blood thinner. Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a condition where you have blood clots that are clinging to the walls of the veins in your legs. While they are still attached to the veins they are called thrombi, but if they detach, they are called emboli and can get caught in another vessel in the body blocking the flow of blood. This is most dangerous in the lungs (pulmonary embolism) because it doesn't allow your blood to become oxygenated and death is imminant if you don't get medical attention immediately. Warfarin helps break up the clots so this doesn't happen
2007-12-16 11:37:30 · answer #3 · answered by murse dan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A clot may move around your body and if it gets to your brain there is trouble, the warfarin will thin your blood so that it doesn't clot and cause trouble for brain!
2007-12-16 09:53:41 · answer #4 · answered by redcan76 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Makes the blood thinner, and reduces the clotting agents in the blood - if you get a blood clot, it can travel round the body, and hit the brain (causing a stroke) or heart (heart attack). Warfarin breaks up the clot.
2007-12-16 09:47:47 · answer #5 · answered by Smiler 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
warfarin is not used to treat a dvt but as after care to prevent it happening again
2007-12-16 09:50:55 · answer #6 · answered by Ktloop 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you'll find it more usual for Lovenox to be used in DVT than Coumadin.
2007-12-16 11:56:44 · answer #7 · answered by vv 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If a blood clot reaches your brain you will die.
2007-12-16 09:45:37 · answer #8 · answered by SteveLaw 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to ensure that you don't form another clot in the future
2007-12-16 14:32:46 · answer #9 · answered by veronicawilliams1969 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to make the clot break up.
2007-12-16 09:44:17 · answer #10 · answered by chobalobba 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋