CUMADIN

[KIM179]

COULD GOING OFF CUMADIN (coumadin) RAISE YOUR HEART RATE?

[deaniegirl]

My husband has been on coumadin for months.He has never been out of arrhythmia for years.He has defibrillator also.But the coumadin doesn't seem to be changing it though.He has edema when he doesn't take his diuretics.

[va_tony]

Coumadin is an anticoagulant and shouldn't have any effect on heart rate.

[Loon33]

Hi.  I have been on coumadin for almost 4 years now, after suffering a DVT/ PE in 2003.  I have never heard of coumadin raising the heart rate though.  It is an anticoagulant used to keep the blood running thin to prevent clots.  Have you talked with the dr. or pharmacist about this question?  I look on Walgreens.com quite often for answers to questions.  Good Luck to your husband!

[dolfnlvr]

I'm not saying it can or can't per se.  However, given the effect of cumadin (coumadin) on the blood, it could well cause an increase in heart rate at first.  Thinning the blood would have the effect of allowing blood to move more freely through the body.  This means that the heart would not have to work as hard to push the liquid through the veins.  If you were to stop this treatment suddenly, the heart muscle would have to  adjust to the increased viscosity (thickness) of the blood by pumping harder and faster.

One effect of dehydration is an increase in heart rate.  The reason for this is that the blood is thicker when there is a lack of water in the body.  So, if this thickening of the blood can cause an increased heart rate, then you can presume that discontinuing a blood thinner may have the same results.

Check with your doctor.  They'll know for sure.