Coumadin is a prescription drug that was originally designed and marketed as a pesticide to destroy rats and mice. Coumadin is the brand name for the drug known as Warfarin. It is an anticoagulant used to decrease the clotting ability of the blood and it helps to stop potentially deadly clots from forming in the body. Coumadin can't dissolve clots already present, but one of its functions is to keep these clots from worsening.
Effects
By far the most common side effect of coumadin is bleeding. There is a definite risk for anyone that uses the drug to experience severe bleeding because of the nature of coumadin. However, the benefits of coumadin easily outweigh this risk, which can occur in 1 to 2 percent of the patients that use it. When this side effect does occur the patient can cough up blood, bleed from the gums and nose, and have blood in the urine and/or the stool. The elderly and those on hemodialysis have an increased chance of this bleeding side effect.
Warning
One of the very rarest coumadin side effects is warfarin necrosis. It is a dreaded complication that can result from a protein deficiency and cause a necrosis of the skin. Women are most at risk from this side effect, which can lead to gangrene of the limbs in extreme cases. This reaction will manifest itself anywhere from 3 to 10 days after treatment with coumadin has begun.
History
Studies in 1999 have indicated a relationship between coumadin use and osteoporosis. Women have found to be more prone to fractures of the vertebrate and ribs while on coumadin. A 2002 study seemed to refute some of this information when it was found that of over 1,500 people who had suffered some sort of fracture, there was not a preponderance of coumadin use.
Identification
One infrequent side effect of coumadin is somewhat easy to identify as you can tell by the name. Purple toe syndrome is thought to occur when coumadin makes small amounts of cholesterol break loose and seep into blood vessels in the feet. The consequence is a blueish purple color in the feet. Not only the toe is affected by this side effect and the treatment often has to cease once it shows up because it can become very painful.
Prevention/Solution
There are some ways to decrease your chances of suffering from some of these coumadin side effects. Avoid contact sports and activities that can precipitate head injuries. Wear a medical alert bracelet that lets people know that you are on coumadin. You can take a test that determines if you are sensitive to coumadin side effects.
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