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The Coumadin Clinic at Cardiology Consultants Of North Dallas, (CCND) was established to educate and inform patients on the use and effects of the prescribed drug Coumadin®.

Getting to know your patient and their lifestyle is critical when your physician prescribes Coumadin®. Lifestyle means a persons activity level and eating habits. Coumadin® patients need to understand the importance of monitoring this drug so it can be most effective in establishing a healthy heart.

The Coumadin Clinic at CCND is most interested in monitoring, tracking, and adjusting the levels of Coumadin® while under the care of your physician.

What is Coumadin®? Coumadin® is the brand name by DuPont Pharmaceuticals Company, of warfarin sodium, an anticoagulant drug.

What does Coumadin® do? Coumadin® lowers the body's ability to make blood clots.

Why do I need Coumadin®? Coumadin® is administered by your physician for conditions such as atrial fibrillaton, stroke reduction therapy, transplant patient medication, and other conditions where your physician deems drug therapy necessary.

At the Coumadin Clinic at CCND, after a physician prescribes Coumadin®, your blood will need to be tested regularly to maintain a target level of medication in your system as established by your physician. A simple finger stick will yield enough blood to test and determine the frequency upon which a patient must return to re-test for target blood levels of Coumadin®.

The freequency upon which the Coumadin Clinic must test and re-test your blood levels is established upon several variables. One variable is diet. Other foods and their chemical compounds interact with Coumadin® and need to be monitored. Another variable that affects Coumadin® levels in the blood is what other medications you are currently taking. Drug interaction is always important, and monitoring this area is crucial to the effectiveness of your drug therapy as prescribed by your physician. Another important variable looked at when maintaining a target level of medication is the activity level of the patient. These variables are what we call your "lifestyle." At the Coumadin Clinic at CCND, we try to adjust the medication to meet your lifestyle rather than the other way around, while maintaining the target level of medication prescribed by your physician.

Whenever there is a question about your medication, always contact your physician. The Coumadin Clinic at CCND will answer your general questions and educate you on what you need to do while on Coumadin®. Remember that your activity and eating habits change constantly, and re-testing of your blood is vital to keeping you healthy.

You change your activity and eating habits around holidays and when traveling for example. This is where the Coumadin Clinic at CCND can assist you with your general questions.

We are here to help you maintain the proper target levels of Coumadin® as prescribed by your physician. For further information, contact your physician at CCND

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Coumadin® is a registered trademark of DuPont Pharmaceuticals Company

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The information contained in this web site is presented for information purposes only, and is not intended to substitute in any way a consultation with a physician or competent healthcare professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment.