Coumadin side effects too much

[Connie313]

My mother in law had a stroke back at the beginning of March.  She has severe arthritis in one knee in particular and has difficulty rehabbing because the knee fills with blood due to the arthritis and she cannot get to the point of standing to do the therapy.  The coumadin has left her depressed, dizzy, cold and overall loss of appetite.  She wants to recover but this drug is very difficult.  It comes to the point of quality of life...she is 77 years old and we want to start looking at something else besides coumadin?  Any suggetions?  We are frustrated and getting depressed ourselves at the lack of help or direction and alternatives that we are being given?

[Londres70]

Because of the stroke, which I am assuming was caused by a clot in the brain since they are treating her with blood thinners, she needs to be on a thinner indefinitely.  If she takes nothing, the chances of her having another stroke related to a clot is high.    

I am not sure if her physician would be agreeable to try a simple 81 mg baby aspirin with her.  Plavix is another blood thinner that is prescribed also.  

[Jim V]

I've found that Aggrenox seems to work without side effects.  It's primarily baby aspirin, but also contains a drug that prevents platelets from sticking together.  I've taken it twice a day since my stroke, and it appears to work, but who ever knows?