Heart Health
Are the new blood thinners better than warfarin (Coumadin)?
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I have atrial fibrillation and currently take warfarin (Coumadin) to prevent a stroke. I haven't had any problems with it, but I wonder if I should switch to one of the newer blood thinners. Are there any advantages?Studies have shown that many people on warfarin frequently have an INR out of the desired range. This makes their blood clot prevention ineffective or puts them at risk for significant bleeding. Taking the wrong dose or missing doses clearly affects the INR test result. But even when a person takes the treatment precisely as prescribed, dietary changes and interactions with other medications can change the INR results.
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