Coumadin Side Effects

Coumadin side effects can occur at any point while you are using the medication. According to the drug manufacturer, Coumadin is used for:

• preventing and/or treating venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism
• preventing or treating thromboembolic complications associated with atrial fibrillation and/or cardiac valve replacement
• reducing the risk of death, recurrent myocardial infarction, and other thromboembolic events such as strokes or systemic embolization after a myocardial infarction

For those who are already at an increased risk of having bleeding episodes, it is strongly advised that you NOT use Coumadin because the chances that the benefits of using it will outweigh the possible risks are quite slim. However, this is a decision that will have to be made in conjunction with your primary healthcare provider.

Coumadin is also available in a generic form which is known as warfarin and the side effects of warfarin are identical to the Coumadin side effects listed below.

Coumadin Side Effects - Commonly Occuring

The signs and symptoms of this side effect will vary depending on where the bleeding is and how severe the bleeding is and will present as follows:

• Abdominal pain
• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Hypotension - low blood pressure
• Joint pain
• Muscle pain
• Other pain
• Paralysis - inability or loss of the ability to move a body part
• Paresthesia - numbness/tingling feeling; "pins and needles" sensation
• Shortness of breath
• Unexplained shock
• Unexplained swelling
• Weakness

Skin necrosis or necrosis of other tissues - necrosis = tissue death

Coumadin Side Effects - Sometimes Occuring

• Abdominal pain, including cramping
• Alopecia - hair loss
• Anemia
• Angina syndrome
• Asthenia - general weakness/muscle weakness with lack of strength and energy
• Chest pain
• Cholestatic hepatic injury
• Cold intolerance
• Coma
• Dermatitis, including bullous eruptions - a type of skin reaction
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Edema - fluid retention
• Elevated liver enzymes
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Flatulence(excessive gas)/bloating
• Headache
• Hepatitis
• Hypersensitivity/allergic reactions, including anaphylactic reactions
• Hypotension - low blood pressure
• Jaundice
• Lethargy
• Loss of consciousness
• Malaise - a general feeling of discomfort or not feeling well
• Nausea
• Pallor - pale skin color
• Paresthesia (numbness/tingling feeling; "pins and needles" sensation) including feeling cold and chills
• Priapism - prolonged and unwanted erection
• Pruritus - itching
• Purple toes syndrome
• Rash
• Syncope - fainting
• Systemic cholesterol microembolization
• Taste perversion
• Urticaria - hives
• Vasculitis - swelling or inflammation of a blood vessel
• Vomiting

Coumadin Side Effects - Rarely Occuring

• Tracheal or tracheobronchial calcification - formation of calcium deposits in the trachea

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Drug Manufacturer Information

Bristol-Myers Squibb
345 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10154
800-321-1335 (US only)
609-897-6669

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February 11th, 2010