Mr. Dhang is a 75-year old man taking Coumadin for a recurrent deep vein thrombosis (DVT). He recently began experiencing frequent, almost daily, headaches but has not consulted his physician. He has started taking aspirin to treat his headaches.
1.Why is taking aspirin while on Coumadin a problem?
2.How does the presence of aspirin alter the effect of Coumadin?
3.Which adverse effects might you expect to see?
1.Why is taking aspirin while on Coumadin a problem?
2.How does the presence of aspirin alter the effect of Coumadin?
3.Which adverse effects might you expect to see?
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Warfarin (generic name) is a blood thinner. Aspirin thins the blood too. If the blood is too thin, that's a problem. Combining both could thin the blood too much.
Some doctors have prescribed warfarin and small baby aspirin to their patients though. The real threat is not keeping the blood in a good range. Warfarin users generally have their blood checked often.
Adverse effects can be bleeding, and possibly heart attack or stroke if blood is too thin.
Some doctors have prescribed warfarin and small baby aspirin to their patients though. The real threat is not keeping the blood in a good range. Warfarin users generally have their blood checked often.
Adverse effects can be bleeding, and possibly heart attack or stroke if blood is too thin.
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Sounds like a homework question to me. Coumadin is an anticoagulant. Aspirin is also an anticoagulant. A therapeutic dose of Coumadin is very close to the level where the blood does not clot at all. Taking aspirin on top of Coumadin MIGHT - MIGHT - trigger uncontrolled bleeding.