What is warfarin?

Warfarin is an oral anticoagulant commonly used to prevent and treat thrombotic disorders such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and atrial fibrillation. It belongs to the class of vitamin K antagonists and works by inhibiting the action of vitamin K, thereby reducing clotting factors in the blood. This slows down the coagulation process and lowers the risk of thrombosis. Warfarin is typically part of long-term medical therapy and requires regular monitoring and dose adjustments to ensure that blood coagulation remains within a safe range while minimizing the risk of bleeding.