Warfarin is an anticoagulant medication, commonly known as a blood thinner, used to prevent and treat blood clots in veins and arteries. It reduces the formation of harmful blood clots that can lead to serious conditions such as stroke, heart attack, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and pulmonary embolism
. Warfarin works by inhibiting the recycling of vitamin K in the body, which is essential for producing certain clotting factors (II, VII, IX, and X) needed for blood to clot. By blocking vitamin K epoxide reductase, warfarin decreases the activity of these clotting factors, thereby slowing down the clotting process and reducing the risk of clot formation
. It is usually taken orally, with doses adjusted based on regular blood tests measuring the prothrombin time (INR) to ensure safe and effective anticoagulation
. Warfarin requires careful monitoring because it increases the risk of bleeding, which is its most common side effect. Patients must avoid sudden changes in diet or medications that can interact with warfarin and affect its effectiveness
. Warfarin is prescribed for people with conditions such as atrial fibrillation, mechanical heart valves, blood clotting disorders, or after certain surgeries to prevent clot-related complications
. It is not recommended during pregnancy due to risks to the fetus
. In summary, warfarin is a widely used anticoagulant that helps prevent dangerous blood clots by interfering with vitamin K-dependent clotting factors, requiring careful dose management and monitoring to balance clot prevention with bleeding risk.
