Never heard anything about sun and coumadin. I'm also very fair and live in CO (we're closer to the sun here). I see a dermatologist at least once a year and nothing has ever been said about coumadin and sun.

Lot's of medications can make you more sensitive to the sun. I'm not sure about this in articular with warfarin, though. I love the sun. During the summer, I am outside for hours at a time on weekends. I've never had an issue. I am on the fair side but tan easily, although I wear sun screen religulously and usually wear a hat.

You won't know until you try.

Is it possible your friend is also on another medication - maybe a diuretic - that has warnings to avoid prolonged sun exposure? I know while I was in the hospital, toward the end of my stay, my legs and feet blew up like sausages, so the doc gave me a diuretic. That IS one of the warnings with the diuretic.

I believe it was also one of the warnings on my anti-inflammatory medication I took before my PE. But it's not NO sun exposure - just avoid prolonged exposure, and be sure to wear your sunscreen of course (that latter was my own warning). I'm extremely fair skinned but until a couple of years ago, I could sit in the sun for hours - even the Caribbean sun - and never change colors (always pasty white). Not anymore. After I started on the anti-inflammatory, I started developing sunburns again - in odd patterns, no less.

One sunburn probably won't hurt you too much, other than the pain of the burn itself. Just be sure to pay attention when you're in the sun and cover up if you notice you're starting to crisp.

My husband is on Plavix, which is supposed to be a blood thinner, just not as strong as coumadin. He was specifically told to avoid the sun. He burns very quickly, just in a few minutes. This was not the case previously.

To be fair, both plavix and warfarin are "blood thinners" but they are different drugs and work differently. So, I don't think the side effects of one means the other will have to same side effects.

When in doubt, ask your pharmacist.