Acenocoumarol is used to prevent harmful blood clots, which reduces the risk of a heart attack. Clots in the heart can detach and travel to the brain, which causes a stroke. Acenocoumarol acts as a blood thinner and helps keep blood flowing smoothly by decreasing the number of clotting proteins. It is an anticoagulant medicine and reduces the risk of blood clots forming inside the blood vessels. It works by preventing the Vitamin K dependant production of the clotting factors. Vitamin K is the vitamin the body uses to make blood clotting factors. (1)(2)
Acenocoumarol: Administration
Acenocoumarol is prescribed to prevent unwanted clots from forming in the blood. Its primary role is to prevent strokes or heart attacks. It is not advisable to be used in atrial fibrillation (beating the heart fast and irregularly) or heart valve replacement when thinning the blood may cause excessive blood loss.
The following must be kept in mind when administrating Acenocoumarol:
- Acenocoumarol should be administered under a medical prescription only
- It should be administered once a day, preferably at the same time each day
- Swallow the whole tablet with water
- In case the dosage is missed or forgotten, take it as soon as possible on remembering
- The treatment should be taken as per the advice of the doctor
In India, some of the Trade names of Acenocoumarol are Acitrom, Nystrom, Asenomac, available in dosages of 1 mg -4 mg. Internationally, it is available under trade names as Acibrom, Acenotrom, Sinthrome, Acecar, Thrombostop and others. They are available in tablet forms and taken by mouth. (3)
Conditions when Acenocoumarol must be avoided
The usage of Acenocoumarol should be avoided in some situations like:
- Pregnant or lactating women
- In case of cuts or wounds, especially when bleeding
- Conditions of Stomach ulcers, recent surgery or a recent stroke
- Liver or kidney conditions
- High blood pressure
- Infections as Bacterial endocarditis
- Any prescribed herbal and complementary medicines
- Allergic reactions to certain medicines
Side Effects of Acenocoumarol
Acenocoumarol can exhibit various side effects:
- Central Nervous System- Headache, dizziness, weakness
- Skin – hair loss, rash, hives and itching
- Gastrointestinal – loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, pink or brown coloured urine
- Respiratory – sudden shortness of breath
- Liver – Liver damage
- Fatal or nearly Fatal Condition- excessive bleeding or bleeding
Precautions in Usage
- Avoid excessive usage
- Exercise caution in patients with bleeding disorders, peptic ulcers, allergies, strokes, severe wounds, stomach infections, Liver or kidney conditions, elderly or children, breastfeeding and pregnant women.
- Avoid alcohol consumption while administering these medicines.
- Regular blood tests are advised while the treatment with Acenocoumarol is ongoing.
- A weight-reducing diet rich in vegetables or salads can affect the INR rate, so the doctor should be consulted.
- Drinking cranberry juice can interfere with Acenocoumarol and affect the INR, so best avoided.
- Avoid intake of the drug together with aspirins and some vitamins and herbal preparations.
- Avoid activities that could cause any cuts or bruises to avoid excessive bleeding.
- Avoid the drug in case of any injections or dental or medical treatment. The doctor should be informed about anticoagulant therapy.
Storage
- Store in a cool and dry place in airtight containers at a temperature of 20-25 degrees Centigrade.
- Keep out of reach and sight of children.
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Disclaimer:
Shubham Pharmachem’s blog posts have been written with the information gathered from approved medical journals and websites online. Our research and technical teams strive to provide relevant information through such articles. We strongly advise readers to not consume or administer any medication without prior consultation with their doctor.
References:
- https://patient.info/medicine/acenocoumarol-an-anticoagulant-sinthrome
- https://www.practo.com/medicine-info/acenocoumarol-785-api
- https://www.medindia.net/doctors/drug_information/acenocoumarol.htm
