How long can you be on warafarin

[Elrod]

Recently three people close to me have had strokes while on warafarin. All three were being treated for A-Fib with rate controll drugs and the warafarin. One died from a clot, one had bleeding in the brain, lived but handicapped, the other person had clot but stroke impaired speech and left side, he is getting better. What are the stats on blood thinners with A-Fib, is it common for clotting and bleeding  to happen while on the drug ? What are the alternatives to warafarin? Everytime I get a headache I think about stroke.

[Hopeful39]

I am also sorry to hear about you friends.  Can you post a few more details (only if you are comfortable)?  Can you explain if your friends were in synus rythm or a-fib when they were taking the rate control medication as well as the Warferin?  Do you know what rate control medication they were using?  

I had a single lone a-fib three months ago and was on warfarin and rate control mediation.  Thanks.

[maggiemag]

Sorry to hear about your friends.  In my opinion, Warfarin (Coumadin) is a very safe drug as long as the patient RELIGIOUSLY takes it exactly as ordered and goes in for regular lab work as often as the physician orders.  That may be weekly in the beginning or at other times when the INR may be unstable.  There are a number of medications that can interfere with Warfarin, as well as certain foods.  Always ask the pharmacist before taking any new drug, especially over the counter ones.  Diet has to be stable in things with vitamin K in them.  You can eat all the spinach you want BUT you always have to eat the same amounts.  Antibiotics can really interfere with the INR, as can licorice of all things.  The important thing is to be educated, know your last INR and where the physician wants it, go get the labs exactly as ordered.  I think that it is not common for clotting and bleeding if the regime is followed exactly.  There may not be any alternative, depending on the severity of AF, and other risk factors.