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Thread: Coumadin

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    Default Coumadin

    My wife is taking a high amount of coumadin 15 mg 6 days a week and 20 mg anybody else take that much or see that effect after treatment.

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    Coumadin (warfarin) is well known for affecting individuals very differently and also for being affected by changes to other drugs being taken. I think the average dose is something like 10mg, but I seem to be sensitive and only take 2.5mg. So long as regular blood tests are taken to keep INR levels within range the actual dose required is not so important.

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    I have no idea what the average dose is, but that dose sounds pretty high to me. I eat as many vitamin K-rich foods I want and only need 4 mg/day to keep my INR in range.

    I wonder if your wife is taking a drug that blocks coumadin?

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    Actually, the information I gave was wrong. The 10 mg dose I referred to is not the expected average that will be required, but just the starting dose for new patients. The expected maintenance dose is stated as being 2-5mg.
    It might be worth checking some of the drug interactions, but don't change anything without supervision and blood tests!

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    She has been on a high dosages since we have left the hospital it has come down but they can only say she needs it to control her INR which is check regularly. We have setup a appt to see a specialist at the clevelnd clinc in January. Dr. Lanford was available.

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    Your in good hands with Dr Langford!

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    You should definitely have a CC hematologist oversee your coumadin care. It can be tricky with Wegs. I'm sure Dr Langford will set that up, just thought I'd say it.

    Now that Jack mentions it, that is exactly how the dosages go. It can take a couple months to really get her stable on a dose. But yeah, 10 mg is way high.

    If the hematologist doesn't mention it, you should ask about getting a home INR tester. It's like a blood glucose monitor. Insurance requires that you are on coumadin for 3 months before they'll approve it. Then you test once a week with a finger prick. (No more often, since the test strips are about $13 each!) You call your results in to a service that supplies the machine and supplies. They let the doc know your INR. If it's fine, you just continue at your current dose. If it's too high/low, your doctor calls and makes adjustments. MUCH safer than having it checked once a month-- the usual protocol once the dosage is stable.
    Last edited by Sangye; 01-01-2010 at 09:34 AM.

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    There is quite a lot in the news over here at the moment about a replacement for Warfarin. See - Blood thinner warfarin faces promising new competition Health Jackal
    Jack

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    Sounds like a promising drug.

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    Cool-- I read about the mechanism of action (because I'm a geek). It's very similar to injectable heparin (Lovenox).

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