Jantoven Warnings and Precautions

Jantoven Drug Information

Specific Precautions and Warnings for Jantoven

Warnings and precautions to be aware of prior to taking Jantoven include the following:

Close monitoring (using a blood test known as the international normalized ratio or INR) is essential for safe use of Jantoven. As long as you take this drug, your INR will need to be monitored frequently.
Many medications and some foods interact with Jantoven (see Jantoven Drug Interactions and Coumadin Diet). Such interactions can lead to dangerous consequences if not handled properly. Check with your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any medication or supplement, or even when adjusting the dosage of any medication or supplement.
While Jantoven can be a life-saving drug, the side effects can be life-threatening. Even small changes in the Jantoven dosage (or drug interactions or dietary changes) can lead to dangerous problems. Taking too little Jantoven, which can increase the risk of blood clots and strokes, can be just as dangerous as taking too much, which can increase the risk of dangerous internal bleeding.
One of the most serious side effects of Jantoven is internal bleeding, which can be fatal. Let your healthcare provider know if you develop any signs of bleeding, such as:

Easy bruising
Cuts or scrapes that are slow to stop bleeding
Black, tarry stools; bright red blood in the stool; or vomiting of blood (signs of gastrointestinal bleeding)
Signs of bleeding in the brain, such as vision or speech changes, weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, or a severe headache.

Although Jantoven is used to prevent and treat blood clots, people just starting it may actually be at an increased risk for blood clots, which can lead to tissue death (gangrene) and fatal outcomes. This medication decreases certain anticoagulant proteins before it starts working to prevent clots; this temporarily increases the risk for blood clotting. In some cases, your healthcare provider might recommend "bridge therapy" with heparin or a heparin-like medication temporarily when you first start taking Jantoven.
For some people, the risks of taking this drug are greater than the possible benefits. These people should not be prescribed Jantoven.
Let your healthcare provider know if you develop a "purple toe" while taking Jantoven. This is a potentially serious problem that can lead to toe amputation.
Jantoven, warfarin, warfarin sodium, and Coumadin^® are different names or brand names for the same medication. Accidental overdoses have occurred because people did not realize that these were the same medications.
Make sure each of your healthcare providers is aware that you are taking Jantoven. Be sure to carry information that identifies you as a Jantoven patient (this could be a wallet card or a medical bracelet).
Before any surgery or medical procedure, make sure to ask your healthcare provider if you should temporarily stop taking Jantoven.
If you are breastfeeding or plan to start, discuss this with your healthcare provider prior to taking the drug (see Coumadin and Breastfeeding for more information).

(Jantoven Warnings and Precautions Continued: Page 3)
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