Side effects

Marcumar is a drug that prevents the formation of certain proteins called clotting factors. The clotting factors are normally responsible for the blood cells adhering to each other. For example, wounds can be closed during bleeding.

If the blood cells adhere too strongly to each other, small blood clots called blood clots can form. Since these vessels can become blocked and thus trigger heart attacks and strokes, Marcumar is used for prevention. However, this inhibits the body’s natural mechanism for stopping bleeding.

This results in frequent side effects such as prolonged bruising, which occurs even after minor injuries, increased nosebleeds or bleeding gums. Blood can also be found in urine. These side effects occur in more than 10% of people who take Marcumar.

Due to the increased risk of bleeding, bleeding can also occur as side effects in many other organ systems, the muscles and joints. In 1-10% of cases, the gastrointestinal system is also affected. Bleeding in these areas manifests itself in the form of bloody vomiting, blood in the stool or black stool.

If these abnormalities occur, a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible. Whether there is an acute open source of bleeding can then be clarified with a gastroscopy or colonoscopy. The open area is then closed directly.

The pericardium and the retina can also be affected. There is a risk of cardiac arrest or blindness. Very dangerous bleeding can also occur in the spinal cord or brain.

If there is bleeding, the blood that has leaked out can squeeze nerves. These then lose their functions, such as the conduction of sensations. In addition, the following areas of the brain are no longer properly supplied with blood.

If this is the case, it is called a bleeding (hemorrhagic) stroke. Furthermore, the accumulation of small bleedings in rare cases leads to anaemia as a side effect of Marcumar. It manifests itself in the form of fatigue and a drop in performance.

In order to prevent these side effects, it is very important that the dosage is precisely adapted to the individual patient and is constantly monitored. Another very rare occurring side effect is the dying of skin areas.This happens at the beginning of the therapy and is an initially paradoxical side effect. Marcumar needs a few days to prevent the formation of coagulation factors sufficiently.

However, to a very small extent it also inhibits proteins that dissolve blood clots. For this reason, until the full effect sets in, more clots form, which block small vessels in the skin. The following areas are no longer supplied with blood and die.

To prevent this, another anticoagulant is often taken at the beginning of the Marcumar therapy. Another very rare side effect is the death of skin areas. This happens at the beginning of the therapy and is an initially paradoxical side effect.

Marcumar needs a few days to prevent the formation of coagulation factors sufficiently. However, to a very small extent it also inhibits proteins that dissolve blood clots. For this reason, until the full effect sets in, more clots form, which block small vessels in the skin. The following areas are no longer supplied with blood and die. To prevent this, another anticoagulant is often taken at the beginning of the Marcumar therapy.