Things to keep in mind for patients on anticoagulants

The article was written by MSc Nguyen Xuan Thanh - Cardiologist, Cardiology Center - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.

Daily use of the anticoagulant Warfarin (Coumadin®, Zofarin®) or Acenocoumarol (Sintrom®, Minisintrom®) is essential for your disease. When using the drug, the following should be kept in mind.

1. Strictly follow the doctor's instructions
Take the medicine regularly, at the right dose at a fixed time of the day Do not stop taking the medicine suddenly for any reason without the doctor's opinion If you forget take the medicine and remember it for the day, take the missed dose right away Regular blood tests as scheduled by your doctor

2. If possible, buy a device to self-test INR (an indicator that helps monitor the effects of anticoagulants) with test strips at home. Your doctor will advise you about the allowable INR range for you. Contact your doctor immediately if your INR is out of range.
3. Always inform your doctor, dentist, or pharmacist that you are taking anticoagulants during medical examination, tooth extraction, surgery or any minor procedure.
4. Many medications can interfere with the effects of anticoagulants. Do not automatically take or stop any other medicine without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.
Some drugs can increase the effect of anticoagulants, increasing the risk of bleeding including:
Prescription drugs: Amiodarone (Cordarone®), antibiotics, Clopidogrel (Plavix®)... Over-the-counter drugs Single : Paracetamol (Panadol®, Efferalgan®); Ibuprofen, Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, Ranitidine (Zantac®)... Some medicines that can decrease the effectiveness of anticoagulants (increase the risk of blood clots) include:
Vitamin supplements with vitamin K ingredients Functional foods, herbs containing vitamin K, fish oil, Ginkgo, Co-Enzyme Q10, flax oil, ginseng... 5. Avoid participating in activities that may increase risk bleeding, trauma, falls, accidents, especially head injuries. Immediately go to the doctor as soon as you have an injury, especially a head accident, and inform the medical staff that you are taking anticoagulants.

6. Take good care of your teeth, use a soft brush and an electric razor. You should visit your dentist regularly.
7. Need to see a doctor immediately if there are signs: bleeding lasts more than 10 minutes to stop; bleeding tooth ; frequent bruising under the skin; menstrual cycles are longer and more frequent than usual; nosebleed; passing black or bloody stools; vomiting blood; bloody, red, brown, or pink urine; dizzy; very tired; weak people; severe headache.
8. Female patients should use contraception while using the drug. Do not become pregnant or breast-feeding while taking anticoagulants. If you want to get pregnant, talk to your doctor carefully.
9. Don't drink a lot of alcohol (maximum 2 drinks/day). Tell your doctor if you smoke/quit.
10. Vitamin K is present in the daily diet and may interfere with the effects of anticoagulants. Do not eat many foods high in vitamin K. It is necessary to maintain a stable amount of vitamin K every day to ensure stable effects of the drug.
Some foods have a lot of vitamin K, reducing the effect of drugs including:
Avocados, soy milk, ginseng Green vegetables and fruits with a lot of green color: amaranth, kale, spinach sticky rice, green salad, parsley, lettuce, water spinach, sweet potato, asparagus, cabbage, broccoli, okra, peas, onions Spices, herbs: marjoram, mint, basil celery, basil, celery, coriander

Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the hospitals that not only ensures professional quality with a team of leading doctors, modern equipment and technology, but also stands out for its examination and consulting services. and comprehensive, professional medical treatment; civilized, polite, safe and sterile medical examination and treatment space. Customers when choosing to perform tests here can be completely assured of the accuracy of test results.