From the Guidelines
The typical tablet dose of Coumadin (Warfarin) is 5 mg once daily, titrated to achieve a goal INR of 2-3 1.
Important Considerations
- The initial dosing of Warfarin can vary, but 5 mg once daily is a common starting point, as seen in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings guidelines 1.
- Another study suggests initiating Warfarin therapy with 10 mg daily for the first 2 days, followed by dosing based on INR measurements 1.
- However, the more recent and concise guideline from the Mayo Clinic Proceedings 1 provides a clearer recommendation for the initial dosing of Warfarin, which is 5 mg once daily.
Key Points
- The dose of Warfarin should be titrated to achieve a goal INR of 2-3.
- The initial dose and subsequent adjustments should be based on INR measurements.
- It is essential to monitor INR levels regularly to ensure the patient's safety and the effectiveness of the treatment.
From the FDA Drug Label
The dosing of warfarin sodium tablets must be individualized according to patient’s sensitivity to the drug as indicated by the PT/INR It is recommended that warfarin sodium tablets therapy be initiated with a dose of 2 to 5 mg per day with dosage adjustments based on the results of PT/INR determinations. Most patients are satisfactorily maintained at a dose of 2 to 10 mg daily. Each warfarin sodium tablet intended for oral administration contains warfarin sodium clathrates equivalent to 1 mg or 2 mg or 2.5 mg or 3 mg or 4 mg or 5 mg or 6 mg or 7.5 mg or 10 mg of warfarin sodium.
The tablet dose of Coumadin (Warfarin) can range from 1 mg to 10 mg per day, with initial doses typically between 2 to 5 mg per day, and maintenance doses usually between 2 to 10 mg per day 2. Available tablet strengths include 1 mg, 2 mg, 2.5 mg, 3 mg, 4 mg, 5 mg, 6 mg, 7.5 mg, and 10 mg 2.
From the Research
Tablet Dose of Coumadin (Warfarin)
The tablet dose of Coumadin (Warfarin) varies from individual to individual and is subject to adjustment due to interactions with other medications and alcohol 3.
Available Tablet Strengths
- 1 mg tablet: correctly identified by 125 (83%) patients 3
- 3 mg tablet: correctly identified by 105 (70%) patients 3
- 5 mg tablet: correctly identified by 98 (65%) patients 3
Initiation Doses
- A 5-mg dose is recommended for initiation of warfarin therapy, with adjustments made based on International Normalized Ratio (INR) values and clinical factors 4
- Comparison of 5-mg and 10-mg loading doses showed that the 5-mg dose produces less excess anticoagulation and avoids the development of a potential hypercoagulable state 5
- Some studies suggest that lower initiation doses or age-adjusted doses may be more appropriate for elderly patients, leading to fewer high INRs 6