Let's take a minute to talk about your medication. 

This is Coumadin, and you should take it exactly as directed. Coumadin is known as a 'blood thinner'. It prevents and treats blood clots. This is important, because blood clots can cause serious problems. 

Your doctor will order an important blood test, called an 'INR'. The INR will tell if your dose is effective and safe. To keep your INR stable, you should eat a balanced diet with no drastic changes. 

Certain foods can affect Coumadin, like foods that have a lot of Vitamin K. These include leafy green vegetables and certain vegetable oils. It is important to eat the same amount of these foods from week to week. 

You may notice mild bruising or bleeding which last slightly longer than usual. If these or other reasons make you want to stop taking this medicine, please talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Do not stop taking Coumadin unless your doctor says it's okay. 

You should call your doctor right away if you fall, if you get injured, or if you have bleeding that is heavy, unexpected, or does not stop. Also call if you have urine that is pink or brown, or stools that are red, black or tarry. Women should report menstrual bleeding if it is heavier than normal. 

Two very rare but serious side effects are 'gangrene' and 'purple toes syndrome'. You should read the medication guide for important information. 

You should ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking other medicines, because they could increase your risk of bleeding. This includes aspirin and pain relievers. 

This medicine is not safe for babies, so women should not breastfeed or become pregnant. 

For best results, plan ahead for refills, and ask about what to do if you miss a dose.