Side Effects Of Warfarin

NHS medicines information on side effects of warfarin and what you can do to cope.

Bleeding and what to do about it

While warfarin has enormous benefits, the downside is that it can make you bleed more than normal.

This is because while you're taking warfarin, your blood will not clot as easily.

Apart from the risk of bleeding, warfarin is a very safe medicine. It's safe to take for a long time, even many years.

Less serious bleeding

It's usual to bleed more easily than normal while you're taking warfarin.

The kind of bleeding you might have includes:

• periods that are heavier and last longer than usual
• bleeding for a little longer than usual if you cut yourself
• occasional nosebleeds (that last for less than 10 minutes)
• bleeding from your gums when you brush your teeth
• bruises that come up more easily and take longer to fade than usual

This type of bleeding is not dangerous and should stop by itself. If it happens, keep taking warfarin, but tell your doctor if the bleeding bothers you or does not stop.

Things you can do to help yourself:

• Cuts - press on the cut for 10 minutes with a clean cloth.
• Nosebleeds - sit or stand upright (do not lie down), pinch your nose just above your nostrils for 10 to 15 minutes, lean forward and breathe through your mouth, and place an icepack (or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a teatowel) at the top of your nose.
• Bleeding gums - try using a soft toothbrush and waxed dental floss to clean your teeth.
• Bruises - these are harmless, but can be unsightly. It might help to make them fade more quickly if you put an ice pack wrapped in a towel over the bruise for 10 minutes at a time several times a day.

What you can do to prevent bleeding

While you're taking warfarin, be careful when you do activities that might cause an injury or a cut or bruising.

It can help to:

• avoid playing contact sports or other activities that can cause an injury, such as football, rugby, hockey and horse riding
• wear gloves when you use sharp objects like scissors, knives and gardening tools
• stop wet shaving or removing hair with wax - use an electric razor or hair-removing cream instead
• take false teeth (dentures) or retainers out for a few hours a day, if you wear them, to give your gums a rest - do not wear dentures or retainers that do not fit properly
• tell your doctor, dentist or nurse that you take warfarin before you have any medical or dental procedures or surgery - this includes vaccinations and routine appointments with the dental hygienist

Other common side effects

These side effects are usually mild. There are things you can do to help cope with them:

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away.

Serious side effects

Serious bleeding

Occasionally, you can have serious bleeding from taking warfarin. This can be dangerous and needs urgent medical attention.

Call 111 for advice now if:

Go to A&E now if:

Bleeding in the brain

Very rarely, warfarin can lead to bleeding in the brain.

Call 999 or go to A&E now if:

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, warfarin can cause a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).

Other side effects

These are not all the side effects of warfarin. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine's packet.

If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.