Aa
warfarin
hair loss ,close to balding. aches and pains constantly. tired, no energy,
I am 76 yrs. old been taking warfarin about 7 months.
what can this medication be replaced with. and not have all these side effects.
I am 76 yrs. old been taking warfarin about 7 months.
what can this medication be replaced with. and not have all these side effects.
I have AFib due to faulty electrical signals within the heart, so then it is quite different from yours. My husband is in permanent AFib and is therefore safer than I am, as you are right that the switches from sinus to AFib and back are the times when clots can form. For this, anti coagulation is essential in whatever form and it is obvious that each individual has different reactions to different drugs. I know the risks of Pradaxa too, but reckon to be safe passing in and out of attacks, and to have the added life qualities of no blood testing, dietary restrictions or the side effects I did have, then it seems the lesser risk to me. We can only weigh up the advice given.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Over the years I have been in NSR for periods of over a year at a time, but always returned to AFib. This may have been due in part to my leaky mitral valve which was repaired in late 2007. My cardiologist would never agree to be going off of Warfarin, even when in NSR (as far as we knew - who knows what may have gone on some nights while I was asleep?) for months and months. I believe the risk of a clot is highest when one goes from AFib back into NSR. The NSR condition flushes any clot that has formed due to AFib out of the the atrial chamber and into the blood stream.
As for the safety of Paradaxa, the TV is full of advertisements about class action law suits involving that medication...there must be some who have serious problems using it. I chose not to use it due to cost (which is covered in part by my prescription insurance) and the relatively good experience I have had with Warfarin. As for hair loss, I developed some "pattern" baldness on the top back of my head about 55 years ago when I had a pretty teenage daughter in high school. After that most of my hair has stayed with me, even after starting Warfarin about 15 years ago.
As for the safety of Paradaxa, the TV is full of advertisements about class action law suits involving that medication...there must be some who have serious problems using it. I chose not to use it due to cost (which is covered in part by my prescription insurance) and the relatively good experience I have had with Warfarin. As for hair loss, I developed some "pattern" baldness on the top back of my head about 55 years ago when I had a pretty teenage daughter in high school. After that most of my hair has stayed with me, even after starting Warfarin about 15 years ago.
You do not say what caused your AFIB.
Between 10% & 66% of patients who have aortic valve replacement get AFIB due to the heart not having liked being handled so much during surgery. Strangely I researched the procedure but did not pick up on that.
With some it rights itself within a few days. In my case it took a second cardioversion fourteen weeks later to get me back in sinus rhythm.
I cannot understand why the surgical team at one hospital and the cardiology team at another have differing opinions.
The cardiologist today warned me that returning to AFIB for just one second could cause a clot to form. He said that dabigatran has not been licensed for patients who have had valve replacements. He also said that the other two alternatives have contra indications. Possibly as I have history of stomach ulcers, had recent eye surgery and have a very small aortic aneurysm for starters but then warfarin poses similar dangers..
Coincidence, last year my older, rather obese neighbour had aortic valve replacement and a quad bypass just before I had my surgery. He had many problems including kidney failure and was in intensive care for a month but did not have AFIB. He was able to continue just with aspirin. He was the patient in front of me today and was told that they would not need to see him again. He has hypotension that they do not seem concerned about. I have severe hypertension that has not been controlled since diagnosed in 2000.
I take it that dabigatran has not caused you any side effects.
Between 10% & 66% of patients who have aortic valve replacement get AFIB due to the heart not having liked being handled so much during surgery. Strangely I researched the procedure but did not pick up on that.
With some it rights itself within a few days. In my case it took a second cardioversion fourteen weeks later to get me back in sinus rhythm.
I cannot understand why the surgical team at one hospital and the cardiology team at another have differing opinions.
The cardiologist today warned me that returning to AFIB for just one second could cause a clot to form. He said that dabigatran has not been licensed for patients who have had valve replacements. He also said that the other two alternatives have contra indications. Possibly as I have history of stomach ulcers, had recent eye surgery and have a very small aortic aneurysm for starters but then warfarin poses similar dangers..
Coincidence, last year my older, rather obese neighbour had aortic valve replacement and a quad bypass just before I had my surgery. He had many problems including kidney failure and was in intensive care for a month but did not have AFIB. He was able to continue just with aspirin. He was the patient in front of me today and was told that they would not need to see him again. He has hypotension that they do not seem concerned about. I have severe hypertension that has not been controlled since diagnosed in 2000.
I take it that dabigatran has not caused you any side effects.
If your AFib returns, then it is quite unsafe not to be on a proper anti-coagulant (aspirin doesn't cut it really). If your cardiologist says you should be on anti-coagulants (in my case, for life) then insist upon Pradaxa (dabigatran). It will be a bit of a battle (I see you live in UK as do I) but it will be worth it to avoid Warfarin.
NB Warfarin costs pennies but dabigatran is around £2.50 a day for the NHS hence the reluctance....
NB Warfarin costs pennies but dabigatran is around £2.50 a day for the NHS hence the reluctance....
I'm 78.
Last year I had my aortic valve replaced. Prior to then I had been taking statins off and on due to muscle pain.
After my valve was replaced I had atrial fibrillation and was put on Warfarin. As well as muscle pain I began to get pains in my joints as well as muscles. I again stopped the statins and the muscle pains subsided but the joint pains increased as my warfarin dosage was increased.
A second cardioversion cured my atrial fibrillation and the surgeon said that I could stop warfarin after being in sinus rhythm for six months. My cardiologist disagreed with my stopping warfarin but I felt that I had no option but to replace it with aspirin. After six weeks most of my joint pains have gone. The exception being my already arthritic hip.
Tomorrow I see the cardiologist again and expect that we will have to agree to disagree:-)
Last year I had my aortic valve replaced. Prior to then I had been taking statins off and on due to muscle pain.
After my valve was replaced I had atrial fibrillation and was put on Warfarin. As well as muscle pain I began to get pains in my joints as well as muscles. I again stopped the statins and the muscle pains subsided but the joint pains increased as my warfarin dosage was increased.
A second cardioversion cured my atrial fibrillation and the surgeon said that I could stop warfarin after being in sinus rhythm for six months. My cardiologist disagreed with my stopping warfarin but I felt that I had no option but to replace it with aspirin. After six weeks most of my joint pains have gone. The exception being my already arthritic hip.
Tomorrow I see the cardiologist again and expect that we will have to agree to disagree:-)
In three months on Warfarin, I thinned over the top and front of my hair (I am a female aged 70) and also my nails went chalky, plus I couldn't sleep well and felt very off colour. The blood tests which were weekly due to an unstable INR became an ordeal when it took two or three attempts. I took Warfarin (for AFib) for about three and a half months and then refused to take it any longer, saying that I would take my chances on aspirin only. Only then was I prescribed dabigatran and this has proved great for me. No blood testing, no dietary restrictions and more importantly, no side effects whatsoever. My hair is growing back....
I have been taking Warfarin for about 2-1/2 years. I am 67 and have some issues with thinning hair, but believe it is genetic and from my hypothyroidism. I don't have any of the side effects you've mentioned, and as Jerry said, many of these symptoms can be age related. Xarelto is one of the newer blood thinners, but my ep told me there is no antidote to the newer drugs and should you need emergency surgery they could be a problem. With Warfarin you can be given Vitamin K or plasma to reverse the effects. I wonder if trying the brand Coumadin might help you? I know the genericss are supposed to be the same, but sometimes people do better on the original drug. Just a thought. I say definitely discuss it with your doctor.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I haven't read the side effects from Warfarin for some time as I have been taking it for about 15 years.. and I have none of the side effects you list. I am 74, so near your age and I suffer from many of the problems of aging which may be the root "problem", not the Warfarin.
There is a newer (out for a few years for use in the USA) that is very different from Warfarin, but I can say I've seen class-action law suits advertized on TV concerning that drug. I don't recall the name, you doctor will know what else there is and if it might be "right " for you. This drug I refer to is much more expensive than Warfarin, which cost no more than a brand name aspirin.
Why are you taking Warfarin? Do you suffer for atrial fibrillation? What is causing your doctor to be concerned about clot formation in your blood?
There is a newer (out for a few years for use in the USA) that is very different from Warfarin, but I can say I've seen class-action law suits advertized on TV concerning that drug. I don't recall the name, you doctor will know what else there is and if it might be "right " for you. This drug I refer to is much more expensive than Warfarin, which cost no more than a brand name aspirin.
Why are you taking Warfarin? Do you suffer for atrial fibrillation? What is causing your doctor to be concerned about clot formation in your blood?
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