Coumadin ® (warfarin sodium) is a prescription anticoagulant medication. It is often called a blood thinner, although it does not really thin the blood. If you have certain conditions, your doctor may prescribe a blood thinner medication. Blood thinners can work to lower your chances of having a heart attack and stroke, but there are also natural. Coumadin / warfarin is an anticoagulant medication used to prevent and treat blood clots like deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). The PT-INR test measures the effect of warfarin (Coumadin). The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality offers a free booklet and a video about blood thinner medicines. Staying Active and Healthy with Blood Thinners, a 10-minute video, features easy-to-understand explanations of how blood thinners work and why it's important to take them correctly. Blood thinners are medicines that prevent blood clots from forming. They also keep existing blood clots from getting larger. Clots in your arteries, veins, and heart can cause heart attacks, strokes, and blockages. Bleeding is the biggest risk with long-term blood thinner use. If you’re on the fence about taking them for this reason, consider making a few lifestyle changes. Coumadin Interaction with herbs, vitamins, enzymes, food, diet restrictions and natural supplements, risks, and side effects November 20 2016 by Ray Sahelian, M.D. COUMADIN ® (warfarin sodium) is a prescription medicine used to treat blood clots and to lower the chance of blood clots forming in your body. Blood clots can cause a stroke, heart attack, or other serious conditions if they form in the legs or lungs. Blood thinners are often used in the prevention of strokes. If you have already had a stroke or a TIA, there is a chance that you need to take a blood thinner. My Guide to Coumadin ®/warfarin Therapy Information Notebook provided by the Community Anticoagulation Therapy Clinic (CAT Clinic) 319-558-4046.