Which pairing is correctly matched for an anticoagulant and its antidote?

Which pairing is correctly matched for an anticoagulant and its antidote?

• A. Warfarin — Vitamin K
• B. Warfarin — Protamine sulfate
• C. Heparin — Vitamin K
• D. Heparin — Fresh frozen plasma

Answer: (A)

Reversal of anticoagulants depends on using the specific antidote that counteracts the drug’s mechanism. Warfarin works by inhibiting vitamin K–dependent clotting factor production, so the antidote is Vitamin K, which allows new synthesis of those factors and gradual restoration of coagulation. In contrast, heparin is reversed with protamine sulfate, not Vitamin K. Vitamin K does not reverse the effect of heparin, and while fresh frozen plasma can supply clotting factors quickly to help reverse warfarin in urgent bleeding, the direct and appropriate antidote pairing for warfarin is Vitamin K. Therefore, the correct match is Warfarin with Vitamin K.

Reversal of anticoagulants depends on using the specific antidote that counteracts the drug’s mechanism. Warfarin works by inhibiting vitamin K–dependent clotting factor production, so the antidote is Vitamin K, which allows new synthesis of those factors and gradual restoration of coagulation. In contrast, heparin is reversed with protamine sulfate, not Vitamin K.

Vitamin K does not reverse the effect of heparin, and while fresh frozen plasma can supply clotting factors quickly to help reverse warfarin in urgent bleeding, the direct and appropriate antidote pairing for warfarin is Vitamin K. Therefore, the correct match is Warfarin with Vitamin K.