Volume 27, Number 1, 16-19, DOI: 10.1007/s11096-004-5150-3

The complexity of achieving anticoagulation control in the face of warfarin – phenytoin interaction: an Asian case report

Yahaya Hassan, Ahmed Awaisu, Noorizan Abd Aziz and Omar Ismail

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Abstract

Phenytoin has been reported to have major interactions with warfarin. Phenytoin induces warfarinrsquos metabolism. However, there are many case reports which provide conflicting conclusions. Here, we report a case of a 65-year-old man with mechanical heart valve on chronic warfarin therapy who experienced persistent fluctuations of INR and bleeding secondary to probable warfarin–phenytoin interactions. The patientrsquos anticoagulation clinic visits prior to hospitalization were thoroughly evaluated and we continued to follow-up the case for 3 months post-hospitalization. The reported interaction could be reasonably explained from the chronology of events and the pattern of INR fluctuations whenever phenytoin was either added or discontinued from his drug regimen.

Keywords  Anticoagulation - Bleeding - INR - Phenytoin - Warfarin interactions

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