$Unique_ID{BRK01504}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Are "Warfarin" and "Coumadin" the Same Thing?}
$Subject{coumadin rat poison circulatory system warfarin clots coumarin
medication treatment prevention venous thrombosis veins coagulation clot blood
hemorrhage bleeding wisconsin alumni research foundation clover poisons
medications medicine medicines treatments vein coagulant anticoagulant
coagulants anticoagulants}
$Volume{G-7,R-7}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Are "Warfarin" and "Coumadin" the Same Thing?


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QUESTION:  I recently read the label on a bottle of rat poison and found that
it contained "warfarin".  I am on a medication called "Coumadin" to treat
clots in my legs.  I believe these two products are the same thing.  Does that
mean I am taking rat poison?  I am totally confused.

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ANSWER:  Don't be worried.  Although you are right, Coumadin (or coumarin) and
warfarin are the same chemical, what is poison for the rat is a totally proper
medication for the treatment or prevention of venous thrombosis (or clots in
the veins).  The purpose in your case is to reduce the coagulation of the
blood, and prevent a clot from getting bigger or new ones from forming.  You
are surely aware that your doctor is constantly checking your blood and
modifying your dosage, if necessary, to keep things just where they must be to
obtain the desired effects but prevent a hemorrhage, or excessive bleeding,
from happening.  Poor Rat has no such medical care, and so eats a massive
overdose of the warfarin, and then bleeds and expires from uncontrolled
internal bleeding.  The name of the drug has an interesting origin as well.
When the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation was investigating bleeding
deaths in cattle, investigators found that this chemical in clover was the
cause and named it for their organization, using the first letters of each
word to coin a new term.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.