Coumadin Clinic
Coumadin is an anticoagulant (anti means against and coagulant refers to blood clotting). CCMA physicians prescribe this medicine for patients who have a history of blood clots, generally in their legs or lungs, or have the potential to get blood clots due to an abnormal heart rhythm or an artificial heart valve.
The unique action and metabolism of Coumadin requires careful dosing, administration and follow-up at the CCMA Coumadin Clinic. Once you begin taking Coumadin, it is necessary to have a monthly test to make sure the dosage is correct. The test, often called a Prothrombin Time or PT/INR, uses a fast and simple finger stick technique to measure the time it takes the blood to clot.
The CCMA Coumadin Clinic staff will help educate you on the proper management of the medication. Patients who understand the reasons for prescribing and monitoring Coumadin are universally successful in long-term therapy with this medication.