Managing Medications: Taking an Anticoagulant
3:47
Managing medications is one of the most common responsibilities of unpaid caregivers who are helping family members or friends. This task can be particularly challenging when the medication is considered high-risk. This episode of the Home Alone Alliance TM series on managing medications presents information about one frequently prescribed high-risk drug—warfarin. Warfarin is the generic name of the drug. Warfarin is often described, even by health care professionals, as a “blood thinner.” This is a common but inaccurate term. Warfarin does not thin blood; as an anticoagulant, it prevents blood from coagulating, that is, clotting. It is prescribed for people who have heart conditions like an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation (A-Fib) or heart valve problems. It is also prescribed for people who have had blood clots in their legs or lungs to prevent a recurrence, and to people who are at risk of stroke.
Managing medications is one of the most common responsibilities of unpaid caregivers who are helping family members or friends. This task can be particularly challenging when the medication is considered high-risk. This episode of the Home Alone Alliance TM series on managing medications presents information about one frequently prescribed high-risk drug—warfarin. Warfarin is the generic name of the drug. Warfarin is often described, even by health care professionals, as a “blood thinner.” This is a common but inaccurate term. Warfarin does not thin blood; as an anticoagulant, it prevents blood from coagulating, that is, clotting. It is prescribed for people who have heart conditions like an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation (A-Fib) or heart valve problems. It is also prescribed for people who have had blood clots in their legs or lungs to prevent a recurrence, and to people who are at risk of stroke.
Family Caregiving Similar Videos
-
Millennial Put Life on Hold to Care for Family
4:06
Carri Brown dropped everything to care for her grandfather and mother. Despite the sacrifices she made, Brown is grateful for her caregiving experience.
-
How Medicare Plans to Pay to Support Family Caregivers
0:58
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra explains how Medicare is changing to help family caregivers.
-
Caring for Dad Cost This 60-Year-Old Her Job
3:56
After Ayda Beltre’s dad developed congestive heart failure, she moved him into her home and made sacrifices to be his full-time caregiver.