Anti-coagulant Therapy

[Leslie Rhodes]

To Whom this may concern,

My question is mostly about causes of INR values in relation to dosage. I feel that I am at a fairly high dosage 10mg coumadin orally/day and getting INR results in the 1.5-1.6 range. It is my understanding that we are aiming for an INR in the 2-3 range. I was getting readings for 2 and 2.1 for 4 tests with a dosage of 8mg and then my INR's changed. This is worrisome to me and am trying to figure out why the change. I have been watching my diet(balanced) and do not drink alcohol on a regular basis 2 beers in 2 weeks. Perhaps this is all normal and I have nothing to worry about. I like to understand the results of these tests and what they mean to me. If I have nothing to wrry about I want to know.

If possible to give me information I would really appreciate it.We all tend to worry too much about things that we do not know about.

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

thank you for your comments.

[Sandra]

Dear Leslie,

     My husband is on coudamin 3mg. a day.  We had problems at the beginning because he was taking a generic substitution from the pharmacy (warfarin).  It was not working for him.  When they changed him to coudamin with no substitution, all regulated quite nicely.  Check out your medicine to see if that might be the problem

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

Thanks for your comments.

[Gina]

Hi Leslie
I am also taking Coumadin due to a MVR replacement. What is your condition? Anyway, just wondering if your eating alot of green veggies. They are packed with vit K. makes your blood thincker. Also mayo and some oils contain a high amount of vit K. It has not been easy for me to maintain a stable INR. I limit my greens vegatables which is not recommended, just my personal experience. It seems to help with regulation.
Gina, ***@****

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

Dear Leslie,

This may be due to diet containing an increase in leafy green vegetables or vitamin K in foods.

You may whish to review your diet.  It is normal to have variation over time and as long as your INR is within range, it may require changes in dosage, but this is not harmful.