What precaution should be given to a person who will be taking warfarin (Coumadin) for 6 months?
A. "Decrease your intake of sodium."
B. "Sleep with the head of your bed elevated."
C. "Avoid aspirin and aspirin-containing drugs."
D. "Avoid taking walks or performing any physical activity."
C
Aspirin disrupts the ability of platelets to aggregate, the initiation of the blood- clotting cascade. Warfarin inhibits the synthesis of at least four clotting factors. Together, these drugs eliminate two of the three ways in which uncontrolled bleeding is prevented. Thus, maintaining blood ves-sel integrity is the only safety factor left, placing the client at extreme risk for hemorrhage, espe-cially in the brain and other highly vascular tissues. Therefore, the use of aspirin is contraindi-cated in clients receiving warfarin.
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