The Coumadin (Warfarin) Help Book: Anticoagulation Therapy to Prevent and Manage Strokes, Heart Attacks, and Other Vascular Conditions

Diana M. Schneider, PhD
DiaMedica (2008)
ISBN 9780979356421
Reviewed by Lori Plach for Reader Views (8/08)

 

“You will need to be on Coumadin,” the doctor says. Just what is this medication used for and what adverse effects may I experience? These are questions that you as a patient or your family may ask. Yes, you can read the pamphlet that the doctor or pharmacy gives you with your prescription but you may still have unanswered questions. Don’t you wish there was a book that gives you more in-depth information about Coumadin, which is also known as Warfarin, or simply “blood thinner.”

Diana M. Schneider has written a book that talks exclusively about this medication that so many people are asked to take. You or your loved one is not alone if the doctor prescribes this – “300,000 to 500,000 start on these drugs every year.” Add that to the staggering number of 2 to 3 million people that are already taking it. There are certain foods that you shouldn’t eat when you are taking this medication as well as the monitoring that needs to be done.  

I was very eager to read this book since my father had this medication prescribed for him when he had his open heart surgery in 2006. He was told that he wouldn’t have to continue to take it because of his having a tissue valve replaced rather than a mechanical one. Surely the medical professionals have a reason for keeping him on it. I am curious to know just what is intended to prevent and help in different situations. This book could be read from cover to cover or used as a valuable resource when questions surface. I have been fortunate to have my father for more years; I need to know what is going into my beloved father’s body. I'm thankful that Diana M. Schneider has written this book for concerned families and used easy-to-understand language.

You don’t have to sit and wonder what makes it such a valuable drug and a predominantly used one. If you or your loved one is told to take Coumadin or Warfarin, “The Coumadin (Warfarin) Help Book” by Diana M. Schneider, PhD, is essential for your understanding.

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