Coumadin (warfarin) is one of the most common drugs taken by your patients. Did you know…
Ginko biloba taken by your Coumadin patient can increase the risk of bleeding.
Rather than avoid foods with vitamin K, current research suggests advising your patient to maintain a consistent intake of vitamin K when taking Coumadin.
Protime (PT) or International Normalized Ratio (INR) are the two lab tests used to measure the effectiveness of Coumadin. The “normal PT" is 11-13.5 seconds (your specific lab normals may be slightly different); the patient on Coumadin therapy should have a PT two to three times the normal. The INR adjusts the PT for the individual lab. The patient on Coumadin therapy should have an INR of 2-3 (e.g., two to three times the normal PT).
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