Warafin Medicine Used to Prevent Blood Clots Can Double the Chance of People Suffering with a Stroke if they have an Existing Heart Problem
Warafin which is used by thousands of patients to stop blood clots can double the chances of suffering a stroke for those who have a faulty heart rhythm when they begin to take it.
Researchers have said that warafin could prevent two natural processes where anti-clotting proteins are produced before the blood-thinning effects are eventually felt.
After 30 days the drug halves the chances of suffering a stroke.
Warafin was initially made as a rat poison and is the most common oral anti-clotting agent in the UK.
Lead researcher Dr Laurent Azoulay from McGill University in Canada told the Mirror: “Future studies should confirm our results and identify the small subset of patients who may be at risk.
“However the results of our study suggested that physicians should be vigilant when initiating warafin particularly in the first week of use.”
Experts have commented on the study which was published in the European Heart Journal today and have recommended that doctors should look into offering their patients the anti-clotting drug heparin to patients starting warfarin treatment to counteract the increased chances of suffering a stroke.
