Farin 5 mg tablets (warfarin) – prevention and treatment of blood clots and embolism

Farin is a medicine in the form of 5 mg tablets containing the active substance warfarin (warfarin sodium). It belongs to the group of anticoagulants – vitamin K antagonists (ATC B01AA03): it reduces blood clotting and prevents clots from forming in blood vessels. It is made by Galenika AD Beograd.

Warfarin is used to prevent and treat blood clots that form in the legs, lungs, brain or heart. The dose is individual and is set according to the results of regular blood clotting tests (prothrombin time/INR), so warfarin treatment is always under medical supervision.

What is Farin used for and how is it taken safely?

Key facts about the medicine

What is Farin used for?

According to the Summary of Product Characteristics, Farin is used for:

• prophylaxis of systemic embolism in patients with rheumatic heart disease and atrial fibrillation;
• prophylaxis after insertion of prosthetic heart valves;
• prophylaxis and treatment of venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism;
• transient ischaemic attack (temporary disturbance of brain circulation).

The patient leaflet summarises this: the medicine is used to prevent and treat blood clots in the legs, lungs, brain or heart.

How is it used and dosed?

• The 5 mg tablet has a score line and can be divided into equal doses; if a dose cannot be achieved with this strength, other products are used.
• Take the medicine every day at the same time and never change the dose on your own.
• Always tell every doctor, dentist, surgeon and pharmacist that you take warfarin.

This is the general dosage from the official documentation and is not an individual recommendation – the dose is set by the doctor according to test results.

Special patient groups

• Elderly patients: dosing as for adults, but doses may be lower; the risk of bleeding is higher (e.g. over 65, unsteady on the feet, prone to falls).
• Children: dosing for children has not been established.
• Liver or kidney disease: more frequent checks are needed; severe disease requires special caution by the doctor.

Contraindications – when the medicine must not be used

Do not take Farin:

• if you are allergic to warfarin or any of the excipients;
• if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or have given birth in the last 48 hours;
• if you have or have had bleeding problems;
• if you have recently had a stroke caused by bleeding in the brain;
• if you have had surgery in the previous 72 hours or are due to have surgery in the next 72 hours;
• if you take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including acetylsalicylic acid, or other medicines that prevent blood clotting – because of the increased risk of bleeding (the doctor decides).

Precautions and warnings

Tell your doctor before starting treatment if you have:

• very high blood pressure not controlled by medicines;
• a stomach or duodenal ulcer (now or in the past), or have had bleeding from the digestive tract;
• a recent ischaemic stroke or cerebrovascular disease;
• bacterial endocarditis (heart infection);
• thyroid problems; severe heart disease, liver or kidney disease;
• thrombophilia, anaemia, a tumour or cancer;
• a recent wound or injury, or an increased risk of bleeding (age over 65, unsteadiness, falls).

• Before surgery or tooth extraction, a dose reduction or temporary interruption may be needed (72 hours before and after procedures with a risk of serious bleeding) – only as instructed by the doctor.
• The medicine contains lactose – if you have an intolerance to some sugars, consult your doctor.

Interactions with other medicines, alcohol and food

Many medicines and products change the effect of warfarin – tell your doctor about everything you take, including non-prescription medicines, herbal and vitamin products.

• Do not take with warfarin (tell your doctor): fibrinolytics (alteplase, reteplase, streptokinase, tenecteplase, urokinase) and St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum).
• Check with your doctor: NSAIDs (acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen, celecoxib, diclofenac, indometacin, meloxicam), clopidogrel and other antiplatelet medicines, heparin and other anticoagulants, sulfinpyrazone, glucosamine, SSRI and SNRI antidepressants.
• Increase the effect (bleeding risk): long-term paracetamol, some antibiotics (amoxicillin, levofloxacin, tetracycline, erythromycin, sulfamethoxazole, metronidazole), allopurinol, antifungals (ketoconazole, fluconazole, itraconazole), omeprazole, amiodarone, propafenone, quinidine, fibrates, some statins (e.g. fluvastatin), orlistat, disulfiram, tamoxifen and others.
• Decrease the effect: barbiturates, carbamazepine, phenytoin, primidone, rifampicin, griseofulvin, oral contraceptives, azathioprine, sucralfate, colestyramine and vitamin K.
• Variable effect: corticosteroids, nevirapine, ritonavir.

Food and drink: do not change your diet suddenly (liver, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and green leafy vegetables contain a lot of vitamin K); do not drink cranberry or grapefruit juice; alcohol only in small amounts. Weight loss, weight gain, acute illness (flu), diarrhoea, vomiting and stopping smoking also affect the effect – tell your doctor.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Farin must not be taken during pregnancy, if you could become pregnant (without agreement with your doctor) or if you have given birth in the last 48 hours. If you become pregnant during treatment, contact your doctor immediately. Warfarin in usual doses is unlikely to harm the breastfed infant.

Driving and using machines

Warfarin does not affect the ability to drive and use machines.

Possible side effects

The most important side effect is bleeding (frequency not known). Contact your doctor immediately in case of:

• unexplained nosebleeds or bleeding gums, bruises or red spots on the skin, heavy bleeding from cuts;
• pink, dark red or brown urine; tarry black stools, vomiting blood or material like coffee grounds, rectal bleeding; coughing up blood; unusually heavy periods;
• blurred vision, difficulty speaking, weakness, numbness, severe headache or loss of consciousness (possible bleeding in the brain);
• painful, bluish-purple toes; jaundice; severe upper abdominal pain (pancreatitis); difficulty breathing and chest pain;
• a painful skin rash (rarely calciphylaxis, more common in chronic kidney disease) and kidney damage with blood in the urine (anticoagulant-related nephropathy).

Others: nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, hair loss, rash, fever, reduced red blood cell count. Report suspected side effects to your doctor, pharmacist or ALIMS.

Overdose, missed dose and stopping treatment

• Overdose: contact your doctor or the nearest healthcare facility immediately and take the pack with you. Signs include bleeding, black stools, blood in the urine, heavy bleeding from wounds or heavy periods.
• Missed evening dose: if you remember the same day before midnight, take it; after midnight skip it and write it down, and take the next dose at the usual time.
• Missed morning dose: take it as soon as you remember and continue at the usual time the next day; if it is close to the next dose, skip the missed one.
• Never take a double dose; record the missed dose and, if unsure, ask your doctor.
• Stopping treatment: the medicine must not be stopped suddenly without consulting your doctor.

Composition, packaging and manufacturer

• Active substance: warfarin sodium, 5 mg per tablet.
• Excipients: lactose monohydrate; maize starch; microcrystalline cellulose; povidone; magnesium stearate.
• Appearance: round, biconvex, white to almost white tablets with a score line on one side; the tablet can be divided into equal doses.
• Pack: 3 blisters of 10 tablets (30 tablets).
• Marketing authorisation holder and manufacturer: GALENIKA AD BEOGRAD, Batajnički drum b.b., Belgrade.
• Marketing authorisation number: 515-01-00101-22-002 of 24.02.2023.

Storage

• Store below 25 °C, in the original package to protect from light and moisture.
• Keep out of the sight and reach of children; do not use after the expiry date.
• Return unused medicine to a pharmacy that collects unused medicines.

Frequently asked questions

Why are regular blood tests needed during Farin treatment?

Clotting tests (prothrombin time/INR) show whether the dose is right. They are done more often when the dose changes, when another medicine is started or stopped, and in liver or kidney disease.

Which foods should be avoided with warfarin?

Do not change your diet suddenly, because liver, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and green leafy vegetables contain a lot of vitamin K. Avoid cranberry and grapefruit juice, and drink alcohol only in small amounts.

What should I do if I forget to take Farin?

If you take it in the evening and remember before midnight, take it; after midnight skip the dose. If you take it in the morning, take it as soon as you remember, unless the next dose is close. Never take a double dose and write down the missed dose.

Can I take a painkiller with Farin?

NSAIDs and acetylsalicylic acid increase the risk of bleeding, and long-term paracetamol increases the effect of warfarin. Ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking any painkiller.

Related information

For additional care and support with high blood pressure and heart conditions (regular blood pressure checks), see also the Blood pressure monitors category – products in this category do not replace the medicine you have been prescribed.

Sources

• ALIMS – Patient Information Leaflet Farin®, 5 mg, tablets (MA 515-01-00101-22-002; Serbian)
• ALIMS – Summary of Product Characteristics Farin®, 5 mg, tablets (Serbian)

Sources checked on: 23 October 2026.