Question Title: Blood Thinners

My friend has Marfan's Syndrome. She is 40 years old and has had two heart surgeries to repair aneurysms. She is currently taking Coumadin to thin her blood. Her doctors have told her that she is becoming immune to the Coumadin. She was taking 15 MG of the Coumadin and they have increaced her dosage to 20 MG. They said if this does not work, they will have to hospitalize her and give her Heparin. Are there any other blood thinners that work as well as Coumadin? Does she have any other alternatives than to be hospitalized?

Dear Lee,

Typically in these cases it is wise to have your friend admitted to the hospital to wean her off coumadin if necessary monitoring her INR (a measure of clotting activity). She can be managed with heparin or low molecular weight heparins if required.

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