What factors affect Coumadin dosing?

finding a suitable dose of Coumadin® can be very difficult. The level of the drug in the body and the therapeutic effect it has is affected by a number of different factors. Coumadin® patients usually require regular monitoring to ensure that they receive the right dose, as high blood drug levels can cause dangerous results such as brain bleeding. Factors such as genetic make -up patient, food intake, other medicines and basic health may affect the dose of this drug. Some people may have abnormal variations of proteins that result in a congenital lower ability to break this medicine. They require lower doses of Coumadin® because the drug tends to remain in its systems for a long time compared to people who have normal proteins. Although doctors can check these genetic variations by sending the patient's blood to special laboratories, in practice they simply monitor the patient's response and reduce the dose if stated.

Another critical aspect affecting Coumadin® dosage is the patient's diet. This drug works by inhibiting vitamin K and, as a result, foods that have a high vitamin K content may suppress the effect of the drug and change its efficacy. Foods with a high content of this vitamin include spinach, greenery, broccoli, grapes, parsley and avocado. Patients are recommended to avoid these foods or eat consistent amounts of these foods every week.

use of additional drugs may also affect the required dosage Coumadin®. Some drugs cause increased disintegration of Coumadin®, reducing its efficiency. These drugs may include rifampin, carbamazepine or barbiturates. Other medicines may increase the therapeutic Efect of Coumadin®, which may be dangerous because it could lead to bleeding. Examples of these drugs include cimetidine, fluoxetine, metronidazole and amiodarone.

Patients with a certain cakeCoumadin® dosage may also require groomed health. For example, patients with poor liver function may require a lower dose to achieve a therapeutic effect. Patients who have gastrointestinal problems and cannot properly absorb material in the digestive tract may require higher doses. The presence of congestive heart failure often means that patients will require lower amounts of drugs.