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Dicumarol
Therapeutic Categories
Anticoagulant, Coumarin DerivativeReasons not to take this medicine
- If you have an allergy to dicumarol or any other part of the medicine.
- If you have any of the following conditions: Severe liver disease, severe kidney disease, open wounds, bleeding that can not be stopped.
What is this medicine used for?
- This medicine is used to thin the blood so that clots will not form. There are a variety of medical conditions where this is needed.
How does it work?
- Dicumarol prevents the liver from producing the factors that thicken or clot blood.
How is it best taken?
- Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an upset stomach. Take at a similar time every day.
- Follow diet plan as recommended by healthcare provider. Keep vitamin K intake constant. Talk with nutritionist.
What do I do if I miss a dose?
- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
- Do not change dose or stop taking medicine without talking with healthcare provider.
What are the precautions when taking this medicine?
- Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
- Wear drug medical alert identification.
- Limit alcohol intake (no more than 5 ounces of wine, 1 ounce of liquor, or 12 ounces of beer per day).
- If you have had a stomach ulcer or bleeding, tell healthcare provider.
- You will have a tendency to bleed more easily. Use caution to prevent injury and avoid falls or accidents. Tell dentists, surgeons, and other healthcare providers about this medicine.
- Avoid other blood thinners (aspirin, aspirin-containing products, ibuprofen or like products, ticlopidine, clopidogrel, garlic, ginseng, ginkgo, vitamin E) unless approved by healthcare provider.
- Avoid multivitamins, herbal products, dietary supplements (Ensure® and like products) that contain additional vitamin K. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Do not use in pregnancy and do not get pregnant. Use birth control that you can trust while taking this medicine.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.
What are the common side effects of this medicine?
- Bleeding problems. This includes nosebleeds, coughing up blood, blood in the urine or stool, or bruising.
What should I monitor?
- Check prothrombin time/INR every 4-6 weeks once stable. More frequent testing is needed early on. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Watch for signs and symptoms of bleeding. If any, report them to healthcare provider as soon as possible.
- Take good care of your teeth. See a dentist every 6 months.
Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately
- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Severe headache.
- Passing out, fainting, dizziness, or lightheadedness.
- Changes in thinking clearly and logically.
- Blood in the stool and toilet bowl, vomiting blood, or coughing up blood.
- Any falls or accidents, especially if you hit your head (even if you feel fine).
- Unusual bruising or bleeding.
- Any rash.
How should I store this medicine?
- Store in a dry place at room temperature.
General statements
- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs, vitamins).






