When warfarin is prescribed

Anticoagulant medicines , such as warfarin,are oftenprescribed for people who've had a condition caused by a blood clot , such as:

  • a stroke
  • a heart attack
  • deep vein thrombosis a blood clot within a deep vein in the body, usually in a leg
  • pulmonary embolism a blood clot in the lungs

Warfarin may also be prescribed for peopleat an increased risk of developing harmful blood clots, such asthose with:

  • areplacement or mechanical (prosthetic) heart valve
  • an irregular heart rhythm, known as atrial fibrillation
  • a blood clotting disorder, such as thrombophilia
  • an increased risk of blood clots following surgery
Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018