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blood and vasular heart disease

I have had mitrol valve replacement and my inrs have changed I was 3.6 now I am 2.0 what could cause it to change?I take 2.5 dosage daily for almost 3 years..I have had surgery in 2010 to replace my mitrol vaveand have been taking warfarin sodium 2.5 tablets daily
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You need a clear statement from your cardiologist as to what your prescribed INR range is.  For patients with a mechanical mitral valve, the range is usually 2.5 to 3.5, but that is up to your cardiologist's judgment.  There are mechanical mitral valve patients whose range is 3.0 to 4.0, but generally that high a range is only prescribed for those with additional risk factors for clotting.  Whatever your personal range is supposed to be, you need to know it.  Then you need to be taking an adequate dose of warfarin to stay within that range.  The amount of warfarin necessary to maintain the same INR can change, especially if any of your other medications have changed.  A drastic change in diet can alter INR also, but in my own personal experience, it has usually been other meds that caused me to need to change my warfarin dosage and not my diet.  An INR that is consistently out of range is dangerous.  Don't worry about maintaining the same dose of warfarin.  Worry about maintaining an INR that is consistently within range.  Whatever dose of warfarin you have to take to stay in range is okay.
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351246 tn?1379682132
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi!
The INR value can change due to a number of causes. Those with mitral vale problems and those who have had the valve repelaced are at increased risk of clot formation. Hence, they need to be on blood thinners. With time, most need a change in dose.  
Normally patients on blood thinners are kept at an international normalized ratio (INR) of 2.0 to 3.0. If the INR is low or near 1.00, this means the blood is pretty thick and likely to cause clot formation. For patients who have an increased risk of clot formation the INR needs to be higher - about 2.5 to 3.5. So, yes, if you needed to be kept at an INR of 3.6 then you either need a dose adjustment or a change in medication. However, all blood thinners are liable to cause internal bleeding into the organs, hence please do not start any medication on your own. Please consult your treating doctor. Take care!
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