Health
Warfarin brochure developed
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted April 7, 2008
An educational brochure to inform physicians and other health care professionals about how patients' genetics influence responses to warfarin has been developed by the AMA and the Critical Path Initiative, a nonprofit group that collaborates with the Food and Drug Administration on drug development issues.
The brochure covers the genetic tests available to determine the best initial dose of the blood thinner.
The FDA estimates that 2 million patients in the U.S. start taking warfarin every year. It is the second most common drug, after insulin, implicated in emergency department visits for adverse drug events, especially bleeding complications.
The brochure can be viewed online (link). Requests for copies can be made via ([email protected]" target="_blank">link).
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/04/07/hlbf0407.htm.
