Warfarin
(war-far-in)
Coumadin®
Anticoagulant (Systemic Drug)
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Dosages
Dosage Forms
Drug Interactions
Adverse Effects
Veterinary Medication Guide
Prescriber Highlights
Coumarin derivative anticoagulant used primarily for long-term thromboprophylaxis, primarily in dogs. Requires careful monitoring & dosage adjustment.
Full anticoagulant effect requires several days to be achieved; may need additional anticoagulant during this time.
Recommend not using in cats; current evidence suggests a lack of efficacy & an intolerable rate of adverse events.
Contraindications: Preexistent hemorrhage, pregnancy, those undergoing or contemplating eye or CNS surgery, major regional lumbar block anesthesia, surgery of large, open surfaces, active bleeding from the GI, respiratory, or GU tract; aneurysm, acute nephritis, cerebrovascular hemorrhage, blood dyscrasias, uncontrolled or malignant hypertension, hepatic insufficiency, pericardial effusion, & visceral carcinomas.
Adverse effects: Dose-related hemorrhage; death is possible.
Teratogenic; contraindicated in pregnancy.
Many potentially significant drug interactions.
Frequency and expense of monitoring are limiting factors.
Uses / Indications
In veterinary medicine, warfarin has been used primarily for the oral, long-term treatment (or prevention of recurrence) of thrombotic conditions, primarily in dogs. Use of warfarin in veterinary species is somewhat controversial, especially in cats, due to unproven benefit in reducing mortality, increased expense associated with monitoring, and potential for serious effects (bleeding), many do not recommend its use.
Pharmacology / Actions
Warfarin inhibits vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKORC1), which interferes with the action of vitamin K1 in the synthesis of the coagulation factors II, VII, IX, and X, as well as the anticoagulant proteins C and S. Warfarin acts indirectly as an anticoagulant (it has no direct anticoagulant effect) to prevent the extension of an existing thrombus, and reduce formation of new clots. Sufficient amounts of vitamin K1 can override this effect. Depletion of existing clotting factors occurs gradually over the first several days of treatment, and additional anticoagulant therapy (eg, heparin) may be required. Warfarin is administered as a racemic mixture of S(+) and R(-) warfarin. The S(+) enantiomer is a significantly more potent vitamin K antagonist than the R(-) enantiomer in species studied.
Pharmacokinetics
Warfarin is rapidly and completely absorbed in humans after oral administration. In cats, warfarin is also rapidly absorbed after oral administration.
After absorption, warfarin is approximately 99% bound to plasma proteins in humans. Only free (unbound) warfarin is active. It is reported that there are wide species variations with regard to protein binding; in cats, more than 96% of the drug is protein bound. and horses have a higher free (unbound) fraction of the drug than do rats, sheep or swine. While other coumarin and indanedione anticoagulants are distributed in human milk, warfarin does not enter milk.
Warfarin is principally metabolized in the liver to inactive metabolites that are excreted in urine and bile (and then reabsorbed and excreted in the urine). The plasma half-life of warfarin may be several hours to several days depending on the patient (and possibly species). In cats, the terminal half-life of the S enantiomer is approximately 23 to 28 hours and the Renantiomer approximately 11 to 18 hours.
Contraindications / Precautions / Warnings
Warfarin is contraindicated in patients with preexistent hemorrhagic tendencies or diseases, those undergoing or contemplating eye or CNS surgery, major regional lumbar block anesthesia, or surgery of large, open surfaces. It should not be used in patients with active bleeding from the GI, respiratory, or GU tract. Other contraindications include: aneurysm, acute nephritis, cerebrovascular hemorrhage, blood dyscrasias, uncontrolled or malignant hypertension, hepatic insufficiency, pericardial effusion, pregnancy, and visceral carcinomas. Warfarin should not be used in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia until platelet counts have stabilized. Anticoagulated patients have experienced hematomas after spinal or epidural anesthesia. Clients must be willing to comply with the frequency and expense of routine monitoring.
Use with extreme caution in cats. Most no longer recommend use in cats due to an increased mortality rate and a high rate of significant adverse events, including fatal hemorrhage.1
Excessive anticoagulation can be managed by withholding one to several doses, with or without administration of vitamin K and/or blood products, with a subsequent dose reduction. Presurgical management may require withholding warfarin for up to several days prior to surgery and use of alternative anticoagulants (eg, heparin), although warfarin may continue uninterrupted if the surgical bleeding risk is low.
Adverse Effects
The principal adverse effect of warfarin use is dose-related hemorrhage, which may manifest with clinical signs of anemia, thrombocytopenia, weakness, hematomas and ecchymoses, epistaxis, hematemesis, hematuria, melena, hematochezia, hemathrosis, hemothorax, intracranial and/or pericardial hemorrhage, and death. In humans, skin necrosis, calciphylaxis, and cholesterol microemboli have been reported.
Reproductive / Nursing Safety
Warfarin is embryotoxic, can cause congenital malformations, and is considered contraindicated during pregnancy. If anticoagulant therapy is required during pregnancy, most clinicians recommend using low-dose heparin. In humans, the FDA categorizes this drug as category X for use during pregnancy (Studies in animals or humans demonstrate fetal abnormalities or adverse reactions; reports indicate evidence of fetal risk. The risk of use in pregnant women clearly outweighs any possible benefit). In a separate system evaluating the safety of drugs in canine and feline pregnancy,2 this drug is categorized as class D (Contraindicated. These drugs have been shown to cause congenital malformations or embryotoxicity).
Based on limited published data, warfarin has not been detected in the breast milk of humans treated, and is generally considered safe to use in nursing patients but the nursing infant should be monitored for bruising or bleeding.
Overdose / Acute Toxicity
Acute overdoses of warfarin may result in life-threatening hemorrhage. In dogs and cats, single doses of 5 – 50 mg/kg have been associated with toxicity. It must be remembered that a lag time of 2 to 5 days may occur before signs of toxicity occur, and animals must be monitored and treated accordingly.
Cumulative toxic doses of warfarin have been reported as 1 – 5 mg/kg for 5 to 15 days in dogs and 1 mg/kg for 7 days in cats. There were 204 single agent exposures to warfarin reported to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) between 2009 and 2013. Of the 193 dogs, 20 were symptomatic with lethargy (50%) being the most common clinical sign. Of the 9 cats, 4 were symptomatic with 50% having anorexia, hematuria, lethargy, and vomiting.
If overdose is detected early, prevent absorption from the gut using standard protocols. If clinical signs are noted, they should be treated with blood products and vitamin K1 (phytonadione). Refer to the phytonadione monograph for more information.
Drug Interactions
Drug interactions with warfarin are perhaps the most important in human medicine. Warfarin is metabolized principally by CYP2C9, but also by many other CYP enzymes. The following drug interactions have either been reported or are theoretical in humans or animals receiving warfarin and may be of significance in veterinary patients. Unless otherwise noted, use together is not necessarily contraindicated, but weigh the potential risks and perform additional monitoring when appropriate.
A multitude of drugs have been documented or theorized to interact with warfarin. The following drugs or drug classes may increase the anticoagulant response of warfarin (not necessarily a complete list):
ACETAMINOPHEN
ALLOPURINOL
AMIODARONE
ANABOLIC STEROIDS
AZOLE ANTIFUNGALS (eg, fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole)
CEPHALOSPORINS (eg, cefazolin, cefpodoxime, cephalexin)
CHLORAMPHENICOL
CISAPRIDE
CLOPIDOGREL
DANAZOL
FISH OIL
FLUOROQUINOLONES
GLUCOSAMINE
HEPARINS (unfractionated and low molecular weight heparins)
LACTULOSE
MACROLIDE ANTIBIOTICS (eg,azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin)
METRONIDAZOLE
MIRTAZAPINE
NEOMYCIN
NSAIDs
PENICILLINS (eg, penicillin G, amoxicillin, dicloxacillin, piperacillin)
PENTOXIFYLLINE
PHENYLBUTAZONE
PPIs (eg, omeprazole, pantoprazole)
QUINIDINE
SALICYLATES
SSRIS (eg, fluoxetine, sertraline)
SULFONAMIDES, including combinations with ormetoprim and trimethoprim
THYROID MEDICATIONS
TRAMADOL
VITAMIN E
The following drugs or drug classes may decrease the anticoagulant response of warfarin (not necessarily a complete list):
BARBITURATES (eg, phenobarbital)
CORTICOSTEROIDS
CYCLOSPORINE: Additionally, warfarin may reduce cyclosporine efficacy.
ESTROGENS
GRISEOFULVIN
MERCAPTOPURINE
RIFAMPIN
PHENOBARBITAL
SPIRONOLACTONE
SUCRALFATE
VITAMIN K
Should concurrent use of any of the above drugs with warfarin be necessary, enhanced monitoring is required. Refer to other references on drug interactions for more specific information.
Laboratory Considerations
Warfarin may cause falsely decreased theophylline values if using the Schack and Waxler ultraviolet method of assay.
Dosages
DOGS:
Thromboprophylaxis (extra-label): No studies have prospectively evaluated the effectiveness of any warfarin regimen in animals. Initial doses of 0.22 mg/kg have been suggested, but a retrospective study described an initial dose of 0.05 – 0.2 mg/kg PO every 24 hours, with dosage adjusted (see Monitoring) to achieve an International Normalized Ratio (INR) of 2-3. The two most important principles in adjusting warfarin were to keep the dose adjustments small and to make adjustments to the total weekly dose rather than the total daily dose.1,3,4
CATS:
No longer recommended.
HORSES: (NOTE: ARCI UCGFS CLASS 5 DRUG)
Anticoagulant (extra-label): Rarely recommended today. An anecdotal dose for adjunctive treatment of laminitis has been noted: 0.0198 mg/kg PO every 24 hours; monitor OSPT (one-step prothrombin time) until prolonged 2-4 seconds beyond baseline.5
Monitoring
Note: The frequency of monitoring is controversial, and dependent on several factors including dose, patient’s condition, and concomitant problems. See Dosage section above for more information.
While prothrombin times (PT) or INR (not validated for veterinary patients1) are most commonly used to monitor warfarin, PIVKA (proteins induced by vitamin K antagonists) has been suggested as being more sensitive. PTs are usually recommended to be 1.5 to 2 times normal and INRs to be between 2 and 3.1,4,6 A retrospective study in dogs used INR to adjust dosage. In that study, some dogs required weekly or biweekly dose adjustments based on the calculated INR value for the first 2 to4 weeks. Based on concurrent disease processes or concomitant drug therapy, it is recommended that dogs (sensitive to diet changes or concomitant medications) have an INR value checked at least every 3 months.3
Platelet counts and hematocrit (PCV) should be done periodically.
Occult blood in stool and urine; other observations for bleeding.
Clinical efficacy.
Client Information
Many drugs and foods can interact with warfarin and can either increase the risk for bleeding or reduce warfarin’s anticoagulant effects. Before starting a new drug, including OTC (over the counter; without a prescription) drugs, or stopping drugs that your animal is currently taking, talk with your veterinarian or pharmacist.
Do not allow your animal to be in situations where it might be injured or cut as serious bleeding could occur. If abnormal bleeding is seen, contact your veterinarian immediately.
To assure the dose is correct, routine blood tests will be needed.
If a dose is missed, it should be taken as soon as possible on the same day. Do not double up doses the next day.
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Chemistry / Synonyms
A coumarin derivative, warfarin sodium occurs as a slightly bitter tasting, odorless, white, amorphous or crystalline powder that discolors in light. It is very soluble in water and freely soluble in alcohol. The commercially available products contain a racemic mixture of the two optical isomers.
Warfarin Sodium may also be known as sodium warfarin, warfarinum natricum, Coumadin®, Jantoven®, or Panwarfin®; there are many other trade names internationally.
Storage / Stability
Warfarin sodium tablets should be stored in tight, light-resistant containers at temperatures less than 40°C, preferably at room temperature.
Compatibility / Compounding Considerations
A method of suspending warfarin tablets in an oral suspension has been described.7 To make 30 mL of a 0.25 mg/mL suspension: Crush three 2.5 mg tablets with a mortar and pestle. Add 10 mL glycerin to form a paste; then add 10 mL of water; add sufficient amount of dark corn syrup (Karo®) to obtain a final volume of 30 mL. Warm gently; shake well and use within 30 days.
Dosage Forms / Regulatory Status
VETERINARY-LABELED PRODUCTS: None.
The ARCI (Racing Commissioners International) has designated this drug as a class 5 substance. See Appendix for more information.
HUMAN-LABELED PRODUCTS:
Warfarin Sodium Oral Tablets (scored): 1 mg, 2 mg, 2.5 mg, 3 mg, 4 mg, 5 mg, 6 mg, 7.5 mg, & 10 mg; Coumadin®, Jantoven®, generic; (Rx).
References / Revisions
Reviewed and updated by James A. Budde, PharmD, FSVHP, DICVP. Last update September 2017.
Smith SA. Antithrombotic Therapy. Topics in Companion Animal Medicine. 2012;27(2):88-94.
Papich M. Effects of drugs on pregnancy. In: Kirk R, ed. Current Veterinary Therapy X: Small Animal Practice. Philadelphia: Saunders; 1989:1291-1299.
Winter RL, et al. Aortic thrombosis in dogs: presentation, therapy, and outcome in 26 cases. Journal of veterinary cardiology : the official journal of the European Society of Veterinary Cardiology. 2012;14(2).
Arai S, Callan MB. Warfarin therapy in a dog with acute arterial thrombosis and pyometra. Canadian Veterinary Journal-Revue Veterinaire Canadienne. 2014;55(11):1066-1068.
Brumbaugh G, et al. The pharmacologic basis for the treatment of laminitis. The Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice. 1999;15:2(August).
Lake-Bakaar GA, et al. Aortic thrombosis in dogs: 31 cases (2000-2010). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2012;241(7):910-915.
Enos LR. Personal Communication.
I am not a bot.
This may be up to a 0.4mg/kg dose.