Health Home > Other Topics > What to do if you miss a dose of anticoagulant

What to do if you miss a dose of anticoagulant

Healthwise
By Robin Parks, MS

Call your doctor if you are not sure what to do if you missed a dose of anticoagulant.

Your doctor can tell you exactly what to do so you don't take too much or too little anticoagulant. Then you will be as safe as possible.

But here are some general rules for what to do if you miss a dose.

  • If you remember it in the same day, take the missed dose. Then go back to your regular schedule.
  • If it is the next day, or almost time to take the next dose, do not take the missed dose. Do not double the dose to make up for the missed one. At your next regularly scheduled time, take your normal anticoagulant dose.
  • If you miss your dose for 2 or more days, call your doctor.

Do not double the dose in any one day to make up for a missed dose.

You can keep track of your medication doses in a daily medication plannerClick here to view a form.(What is a PDF document?) .

Credits

Author Robin Parks, MS
Editor Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor Denele Ivins
Associate Editor Pat Truman, MATC
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Jeffrey J. Gilbertson, MD - Cardiovascular Surgery
Last Updated January 15, 2008
Author:Robin Parks, MS
Last Updated: 01/15/2008