Reviewed by Lori Plach for Reader Views (8/08)

"You will need to be on Coumadin," the doctor says. Just what is this medication used for and what adverse effects may I experience? These are questions that you as a patient or your family may ask. Yes, you can read the pamphlet that the doctor or pharmacy gives you with your prescription but you may still have unanswered questions. Don't you wish there was a book that gives you more in-depth information about Coumadin, which is also known as Warfarin, or simply "blood thinner."

Diana M. Schneider has written a book that talks exclusively about this medication that so many people are asked to take. You or your loved one is not alone if the doctor prescribes this - "300,000 to 500,000 start on these drugs every year." Add that to the staggering number of 2 to 3 million people that are already taking it. There are certain foods that you shouldn't eat when you are taking this medication as well as the monitoring that needs to be done.

I was very eager to read this book since my father had this medication prescribed for him when he had his open heart surgery in 2006. He was told that he wouldn't have to continue to take it because of his having a tissue valve replaced rather than a mechanical one. Surely the medical professionals have a reason for keeping him on it. I am curious to know just what is intended to prevent and help in different situations. This book could be read from cover to cover or used as a valuable resource when questions surface. I have been fortunate to have my father for more years; I need to know what is going into my beloved father's body. I'm thankful that Diana M. Schneider has written this book for concerned families and used easy-to-understand language.

You don't have to sit and wonder what makes it such a valuable drug and a predominantly used one. If you or your loved one is told to take Coumadin or Warfarin, "The Coumadin (Warfarin) Help Book" by Diana M. Schneider, PhD, is essential for your understanding.

The heart is a vital organ, but there is so much wrong that can go with it. "The Coumadin (Warfarin) Help Book" is a manual for the drug known as Coumadin/Warfarin and its effect on the heart. Covering the uses of the drugs and their potentially nasty side effects as well as possible problems that could come with mixing it with certain foods and beverages, author Diana Schneider has written a comprehensive and thoroughly 'user friendly' guide book. If one is deciding if the drug is right for them, "The Coumadin (Warfarin) Help Book" is a good read alongside the advice of a physician.

I got this book because my Dad has taken Coumadin for several years and will probably always have to take it. I wanted to learn more about how Coumadin/Warfarin works and how it affects the body in both positive and negative ways. I found the book extremely useful. It not only covered the mechanisms of Coumadin and potential side effects, but also talks about how your diet and other medications can interact with the drug. The writing is accessible and the book is just the right size - much more readable than the little instructions in 8 point type that come with prescriptions! The information is confidently presented, but Schneider often reminds readers that they should discuss particular concerns with their doctors - which I think is important to emphasize. At less than 100 pages, it is a quick read and provides an excellent source of information on Coumadin, as long as the audience remembers that it is a supplementary source of information and shouldn't substitute for a doctor's advice.

1The Coumadin (Warfarin ) Help Book is a very easy to read, nicely laid out guide for anyone managing the anticoagulant drug Coumadin.The dietary and monitoring guidelines are understandable and she places the emphasis right where it belongs, on consistency. She explains how the drug works, how its efficacy is measured, the way diet affects the clotting process and the drug's blood levels The side effects and the way other drugs interact can be quite daunting, but she does an excellent job of providing the facts without the fear factor.

I wish she had spent more time explaining the transition process for starting therapy and for times when therapy must be interrupted . The transition from heparin to Coumadin is a tough area for patients to understand, and she did such a great job in all other areas, I would have liked to see her tackle that one last area. I am a nurse for a hematologist, and I can see my office using this as a resource for our patients, with great confidence.

The Coumadin® (Warfarin) Help Book : Anticoagulation Therapy to Prevent and Manage Strokes, Heart Attacks, and Other Vascular Conditions was an extremely easy read, both for the glossary of terms used in the book, and for the author's approach to the subject. Mrs. Diana Schneider, Ph.D., who wrote the book after her own experiences with Coumadin®, brings an interesting perspective to her book; one which, in my opinion, is more beneficial than just reading a text in the traditional sense. Although I have no personal experience with the medication, and have very little medical knowledge, in the book, every term was explained so fully and carefully, as if the reader was as inexperienced as myself. However, the book was not "watered down" by these definitions, and I would say that Mrs. Schneider straddled the line between making the book accessible and making it informative, beautifully. Although I think the book is wonderful, and would recommend it to many of my friends, and family especially, the one problem that I found is in regards to the slight bias that I picked up when reading. It is within all the rights to have an agenda for the process of writing a book, but it was just a feeling and these types of manuals can influence many of its readers without consciously doing so. I do hope to read more of Mrs. Schneider's works, and overall, I enjoyed this book.

The Coumadin® (Warfarin) Help Book : Anticoagulation Therapy to Prevent and Manage Strokes, Heart Attacks, and Other Vascular Conditions was an extremely easy read, both for the glossary of terms used in the book, and for the author's approach to the subject. Mrs. Diana Schneider, Ph.D., who wrote the book after her own experiences with Coumadin®, brings an interesting perspective to her book; one which, in my opinion, is more beneficial than just reading a text in the traditional sense. Although I have no personal experience with the medication, and have very little medical knowledge, in the book, every term was explained so fully and carefully, as if the reader was as inexperienced as myself. However, the book was not "watered down" by these definitions, and I would say that Mrs. Schneider straddled the line between making the book accessible and making it informative, beautifully. Although I think the book is wonderful, and would recommend it to many of my friends, and family especially, the one problem that I found is in regards to the slight bias that I picked up when reading. It is within all the rights to have an agenda for the process of writing a book, but it was just a feeling and these types of manuals can influence many of its readers without consciously doing so. I do hope to read more of Mrs. Schneider's works, and overall, I enjoyed this book.

This book is invaluable to anyone who takes Coumadin. It is easy to read, with short, to-the-point chapters. Goes into just enough detail about the reasons for taking Coumandin, the dietary knowledge needed and the precautions of being on any blood thinner. The wording is in layman terms and not too "medical". If you take Coumadin (or the generic form) you need this book!!!

Based on the high number of people each year in the United States who are diagnosed with heart disease, it seems obvious that a book like The Coumadin® (Warfarin) Help Book by Diana M. Schneider would be well-received. Coumadin® is a medication that should be taken with caution and lots of physician supervision, but a patient who thoroughly understands the implications and management of his own medications is certainly better able to fully participate in health care decisions. The book is compact, making it quick to reference and read, and is packed with useful information that will help patients fully understand how to take this medication. It is divided into three sections: understanding anticoagulation therapy, successful management of anticoagulation therapy, and general health concerns. Each covers a different aspect of Coumadin® management, from diet and exercise, to monitoring, side effects, and even how to travel while on this medication.
I know, and have known, several individuals with heart issues who have been prescribed Coumadin®, including my father, my aunt, and several close family friends. I would recommend this book to every one of them as a handy reference and guide to understanding their medication more fully.

The Coumadin (Warfarin) is a very useful help book. This 94 pages handbook is well structure and is very easy to understand and follow for somebody intimidated by all this long language of medicine and doctors.

The book is divided in sections, covering the basics, how to take the Coumadin or Warfarin, the side effects and the dietary considerations.

I had found the section on Managing Your General Health very interesting, including a section on Special Concerns of Women. There is even a section on how to manage taking Coumadin (Warfarin), when away from home, in eating in resto and so on.

Very informative book. I recommend this book.