Warfarin: Mechanism of Action and Hints for Monitoring

Week 6 DQ 2
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Warfarin
Warfarin is prescribed to patients with cardiovascular disorders to treat and prevent blood clots. By treating blood clots in veins and arteries, the risk of heart attack and stroke is avoided. The drug is also taken to help reduce the risk of embolism (Elango et al., 2021). Also, since the metabolism of this drug varies greatly among patients, it interacts with the most commonly used drugs. The drug interacts with antibiotics such as metronidazole, leading to an increase in the effect of Warfarin on a patient's body. Additionally, when taken with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, cases of gastrointestinal bleeding have been reported among patients. Furthermore, taking vitamin K supplements when taking Warfarin also increases the risk of bleeding, and it also has major interaction with Aspirin and a moderate interaction with Crestor and Cymbalta.
 Additionally, although the drug is commonly referred to as a "blood thinner," it does not affect the viscosity of the blood. As a result, the action of taking this drug...