The patient asks you why she is not on heparin therapy any longer. What differentiates heparin from warfarin?You selected: Heparin is administered parenterally, while warfarin is administered orally.CorrectExplanation:Heparin is administered parenterally, while warfarin is administered orally. Warfarin is administered after heparin therapy to complete treating a thrombus or embolism. Patients. Take warfarin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Do not take warfarin in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than your doctor tells you to. It would most likely be for the prevention of blood clots. It could be following a stroke, heart attack, there are all kinds of potential scenarios where blood thinning medications would be used. Warfarin prescription is part of the ongoing treatment of hart problems with non-tissue replacements. I was operated on in Australia, I was prescribed warfarin after my Mitral Valve replacement. why do i need warfarin? Warfarin is prescribed for people who are at increased risk for developing harmful blood clots. This includes people with a mechanical heart valve, an irregular heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation, certain clotting disorders, or a higher risk of a clot after hip or knee surgery. Warfarin is used to prevent blood clots from forming or growing larger in your blood and blood vessels. It is prescribed for people with certain types of irregular heartbeat, people with prosthetic (replacement or mechanical) heart valves, and people who have suffered a heart attack. The oral anticoagulants available in the UK are warfarin, acenocoumarol, phenindione, dabigatran etexilate, rivaroxaban and apixaban. Warfarin continues to be the most widely used oral anticoagulant but the use of the newer oral anticoagulants (dabigatran etexilate, rivaroxaban and apixaban) is increasing. Warfarin is the most widely prescribed anticoagulant (a drug which reduces the risk of blood clots forming) in the UK. Find out why you might take it, possible side effects, and what you need to know if you take warfarin. Warfarin is an anticoagulant. It will be prescribed if you have an unwanted clot in your blood, or if you are at risk of having an unwanted clot.