Warfarin
is a class of anticoagulant
drug; variants include warfarin potassium (trade name Athrombin-K)
and warfarin sodium (trade names Coumadin and Panwarfin).
Like other anticoagulant drugs, it may be
prescribed to reduce the risk of blood clots in patients who
have had or are at risk of having strokes.
And, like other anticoagulant drugs, there can be negative
side effects including the risk of internal bleeding.
Warfarin poisoning can occur due to accidental
overdose or by cumulative buildup of the drug in the body
over a long period of treatment. It can cause bleeding of
the gums, nose and skin, as well as blood in the feces and
urine.
Further Reading:
The Mayo Health Clinic (http://www.mayohealth.org)
maintains a current list of information about drugs approved
for use in the US.
Article : "VASCULAR
DEMENTIA"
by Catherine E. Myers. Copyright © 2006 Memory Loss and the Brain |