What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking warfarin?

Do not take warfarin if you:
recently had surgery;
have a stomach ulcer or bleeding in the stomach;
have had a certain type of stroke caused by bleeding in the brain;
have had an aneurysm;
recently had a spinal puncture or lumbar block anesthesia; or
have bacterial endocarditis (infection of the heart), pericarditis (swelling of tissue around the heart), or pericardial effusion (build-up of fluid around the heart).
Before taking warfarin, tell your doctor if you:
have kidney disease;
have liver disease;
have high blood pressure;
have a hereditary protein C or protein S deficiency;
are diabetic;
have polycythemia vera;
have vasculitis;
have congestive heart failure;
have a collagen vascular disorder such as systemic lupus erythematosus;
have thyroid disease;
have high cholesterol;
have cancer;
have a vitamin K deficiency;
are considering having surgery; or
are taking antibiotics to treat an infection.
You may not be able to take warfarin, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
Warfarin is in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that warfarin is known to cause birth defects in an unborn baby and must not be taken during pregnancy. Do not take warfarin if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. Consult your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking warfarin.
Warfarin has not been detected in human breast milk. Talk to your doctor before taking warfarin if you are breast-feeding a baby.