Bizarre beginnings for meds

Q. I was prescribed Coumadin/warfarin in 2005. I have just recently learned that both are a form of rat poison! Is that the best our "medical industry" can come up with? What's next? Leeches? I want to know what I can take in place of the "rat poison." There has to be something better.

A. It is true that Coumadin's generic form, warfarin, is one of the main ingredients in rat poison. However, that does not mean it is not beneficial for humans. Many lifesaving medications and treatments have been found in unlikely places. Aspirin was derived from the bark of willow trees. Penicillin was discovered by accident when mold blew in from an open window into a petri dish containing bacteria. Many cancer treatments have been developed from plants found in rainforests and jungles. Even certain food additives and colorings come from unlikely sources, such as the ground-up shells of beetles.

The value of something cannot be determined only by where it comes from. Without warfarin and Coumadin, there would be several thousand more deaths per year because of clotting abnormalities and heart conditions. While its source may be a bit bizarre, the fact remains that without this medication, people would die unnecessarily.

As for your statement about leeches, well, yes, they can be successfully used for medical purposes. The leech is a bloodsucker. Its saliva contains certain substances that don't allow blood to clot properly while it's feeding.

While not common practice, especially here in the United States, leeches can be used successfully to treat some conditions, such as regrafting amputated appendages.

Another uncommon and rather disgusting yet beneficial treatment is maggots. These ugly little fly larvae can improve healing of extensive burns.

Maggots eat only dead and decaying flesh, leaving healthy skin and muscle intact. In essence, they do the same job as surgical debridement.

As for an alternative, that would depend on why you are taking the medication. Some people may be able to use standard or low-dose aspirin. Some may benefit from the use of Plavix, with or without aspirin.

However, without knowing your medical history and reason for taking it, I can't give you a clear-cut answer.

Speak with your physician about alternatives if taking warfarin disturbs you.

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