Information specific to: Acenocoumarol 1mg tablets when used in Blood clotting.
Acenocoumarol (Ass-senn-oh-kew-mah-rol) is a medicine which is used in treatment and prevention of thromboembolic diseases.
The information in this Medicine Guide for Acenocoumarol varies according to the condition being treated and the particular preparation used.
Your medicine
Medicines are used to treat, control or prevent a condition. Some medicines will give you immediate relief from your symptoms while others take much longer to work.
Acenocoumarol has been prescribed for your current medical problems and should not be used for other medical problems. Do not share your medicine with other people as it may not be suitable for them and could cause them harm. In the same way, you should not use medicines that belong to other people.
The pharmacy label on your medicine tells you how much medicine you should take. It also tells you how often to take your medicine. This is the dose that you and your prescriber have agreed you should take. Depending on your response to the medicine, how the medicine works and the goals of your treatment, your prescriber may vary your dose. You should not change the dose of your medicine unless you are told to do so by your prescriber.
Acenocoumarol is used to prevent and treat bloodclots. It works by blocking the production of chemicals that are needed to form a bloodclot. Acenocoumarol may also prevent existing clots from getting bigger. This can help to prevent some of the more serious problems that can be caused by larger bloodclots.
The dose of Acenocoumarol needs to be carefully adjusted and regular blood tests are needed to decide the right dose for each person. It is important that you understand and follow your prescriber's instructions. For more information, speak to your prescriber, pharmacist or nurse.
Other information about Acenocoumarol:
- your prescriber may vary the dose of your medicine to find what is best for you
If you feel that the medicine is making you unwell or you do not think it is working, then talk to your prescriber.
Whether this medicine is suitable for you
Acenocoumarol is not suitable for everyone and some people should never use it. Other people should only use it with special care. It is important that the person prescribing this medicine knows your full medical history.
Your prescriber may only prescribe this medicine with special care or may not prescribe it at all if you:
- are about to have or have had surgery or dental procedures
- are allergic or sensitive to or have had a reaction to any of the ingredients in the medicine
- are allergic to coumarin-related medicines
- are an alcoholic
- are elderly
- are having other medicines injected into muscles
- are pregnant
- are prone to bleeding
- have bleeding problems
- have blood problems
- have conditions which may affect the way Acenocoumarol works - these may include thyroid problems, tumours, infections or inflammations
- have gastrointestinal problems
- have had a stroke caused by a bleed in the brain
- have kidney problems
- have liver problems
- have or have had certain heart problems
- have peptic ulcers
- have psychiatric problems
Furthermore, the prescriber may not prescribe this medicine for a child or for people who are senile or are unable to co-operate.
As part of the process of assessing suitability to take this medicine a prescriber may also arrange tests:
- to determine whether or not the medicine is suitable and whether it must be prescribed with extra caution
- to confirm that this is the right dose
- to check that this medicine is not having any undesired effects
Over time it is possible that Acenocoumarol can become unsuitable for some people, or they may become unsuitable for it. If at any time it appears that Acenocoumarol has become unsuitable, it is important that the prescriber is contacted immediately.
Alcohol
Alcohol can interact with certain medicines.
In the case of Acenocoumarol:
- this medicine may interact with alcohol
If you choose to drink alcohol while taking this medicine, it is best that you only drink alcohol in moderation. For more advice speak to your prescriber.
Diet
Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your prescriber may advise you to avoid certain foods.
In the case of Acenocoumarol:
- this medicineinteracts with cranberry juice
For more advice speak to your prescriber, nutritionist or pharmacist.
Driving and operating machinery
When taking any medicine you should be aware that it might interfere with your ability to drive or operate machinery safely.
Like all medicinesAcenocoumarol can cause side effects. You should see how this medicine affects you and then judge if you are safe to drive or operate machinery. If you are in any doubt, talk to your prescriber.
Family planning and pregnancy
Most medicines, in some way, can affect the development of a baby in the womb. The effect on the baby differs between medicines and also depends on the stage of pregnancy that you have reached when you take the medicine.
In the case of Acenocoumarol:
- you must not take Acenocoumarol during pregnancy. If you could become pregnant, you must use effective contraception or abstain from penetrative sex. You must contact your prescriber if you become pregnant, or think you have become pregnant, while taking Acenocoumarol
This medicine is not suitable during pregnancy. It is essential that you seek urgent medical advice if you become pregnant or think you have become pregnant while taking this medicine.
If you are planning to become pregnant, you should discuss your personal circumstances with your doctor so that together you can make a decision about what treatment you may need during your pregnancy.
Breast-feeding
Certain medicines can pass into breast milk and may reach your baby through breast-feeding.
In the case of Acenocoumarol:
- this medicine passes into breast milk. If you take this medicine while breastfeeding, your baby may need some extra monitoring
Before you have your baby you should discuss breast-feeding with your doctor or midwife. They will help you decide what is best for you and your baby based on the benefits and risks associated with this medicine. You should only breast-feed your baby while taking this medicine on the advice of your doctor or midwife.
Taking other medicines
If you are taking more than one medicine they may interact with each other. At times your prescriber may decide to use medicines that interact, in other cases this may not be appropriate.
The decision to use medicines that interact depends on your specific circumstances. Your prescriber may decide to use medicines that interact, if it is believed that the benefits of taking the medicines together outweigh the risks. In such cases, it may be necessary to alter your dose or monitor you more closely.
Tell your prescriber the names of all the medicines that you are taking so that they can consider all possible interactions. This includes all the medicines which have been prescribed by your GP, hospital doctor, dentist, nurse, health visitor, midwife or pharmacist. You must also tell your prescriber about medicines which you have bought over the counter without prescriptions.
The following medicines may interact with Acenocoumarol:
- 5-fluorouracil and analogues
- 6-mercaptopurine
- allopurinol
- aminoglutethimide
- amiodarone
- amoxicillin
- aspirin
- atorvastatin
- azathioprine
- carbamazepine
- celecoxib
- chloramphenicol
- chlorpropamide
- cimetidine
- ciprofloxacin
- clarithromycin
- clofibric acid and derivatives
- clopidogrel
- co-amoxiclav
- colestyramine
- co-trimoxazole
- dextrothyroxine
- diflunisal
- dipyridamole
- disulfiram
- econazole
- erythromycin
- etacrynic acid
- fenofibrate
- fluconazole
- fluoxetine
- fluvastatin
- gemfibrozil
- glibenclamide
- glimepiride
- glucagon
- griseofulvin
- heparin
- indinavir
- ketoconazole
- methylprednisolone
- metronidazole
- miconazole
- nelfinavir
- neomycin
- norfloxacin
- ofloxacin
- para-aminosalicylic acid
- paracetamol
- paroxetine
- phenobarbital
- phenylbutazone
- phenytoin
- prednisone
- quinidine
- rifampicin
- ritonavir
- salicylic acid and derivatives
- saquinavir
- simvastatin
- sulfinpyrazone
- tamoxifen
- tetracycline
- tolbutamide
- tramadol
The following types of medicine may interact with Acenocoumarol:
- anabolic steroids
- androgens
- antiarrhythmics
- antibacterials
- antineoplastic agents
- antiplatelets
- barbiturates
- cephalosporins
- corticosteroids
- COX-2 inhibitors
- cytochrome P450 enzyme inducers
- cytochrome P450 enzyme inhibitors
- fibrates
- H2 antagonists
- hydantoin derivatives
- imidazole derivatives
- low molecular weight heparins
- macrolides
- medicines that affect bleeding
- medicines that are metabolised by the cytochrome P450 system
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatories
- oral antidiabetics
- oral contraceptives
- protease inhibitors
- pyrazolone derivatives
- quinolones
- selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors
- statins
- sulphonamides
- sulphonylurea derivatives
- tetracyclines
- thiazide diuretics
- thyroidhormones
If you are taking Acenocoumarol and one of the above medicines or types of medicines, make sure your prescriber knows about it.
Complementary preparations and vitamins
Medicines can interact with complementary preparations and vitamins.
Make sure you tell your prescriber the names of all the complementary preparations and vitamins that you are taking or are planning to take.
Your prescriber can then decide whether it is appropriate for you to take combinations that are known to interact.
In the case of Acenocoumarol:
- this medicine may interact with St. Johns Wort, cranberry preparations or vitamin K
If you have been prescribed Acenocoumarol you should only take something on the above list on the specific advice of your prescriber or pharmacist.
