Taking Warfarin after having strokes.

A patient and the patient’s friend are both taking warfarin after having strokes. The patient’s friend is on a higher dose than the patient. The patient asks for an increased dose, saying, “Isn’t my friend who is getting more going to be better protected against having another stroke?” What is the nurse’s best response?

“We can talk to your physician about getting a higher dose of warfarin if you are concerned about your risk.”

“You should only worry about your own dose of the drug; that’s all that matters. Don’t be concerned about what others take.”

“Your friend needs a higher dose because genetic testing showed that your friend’s body needs more to be effective.”

“The genetic testing you had done showed genes that affect how you metabolize warfarin; this helped us determine the best dose.”