I took my first dose of Warfarin last evening.

[Dulcimer]

I have woken up several times in the night feeling sick and shaking with a nasty taste in mouth. Has any one else had this reaction? Should I stop taking it or do these symptoms subside?

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Dulcimer - No I have never had this reaction while taking warfarin, but I believe that feeling sick and a metallic taste in the mouth are all known side effects. I would ring your GP first thing this morning and ask for advice. Hope you're soon sorted out and wishing you well.

Jean

[jennydog]

I was started on warfarin 2 weeks ago. I have had no side effects at all. I was nervous as aspirin really upset my stomach. I was 2.5 within 8 days so it was text- book. I do hope that you are sorted out promptly.

[Mamamarilyn in reply to jennydog]

You lucky girl! I've had no side-effects at all but after 8 weeks my INR is still only 2.1 and stubbornly refuses to move! But hey, I feel OK and that's the main thing. Keep well x

[jennydog in reply to Mamamarilyn]

I had heard some awful tales about warfarin but it's really simple - just follow the instructions. I was very fortunate to be contacted by Beth via this site. She came to see me and answered all my questions re warfarin and ablation. She was amazing!

[BobD Volunteer]

Ride the wave till it settles down. There are a few people for whom warfarin is not acceptable but I only know of one by anecdote. I always try to take mine in the evening before dinner whenever that is and have never had any adverse reaction.

BobD

[Terjo in reply to BobD]

Have you read the report in the bmj which was flagged up by the AFA ?

I read it and all the replies to the AFA and the discussion I'd be very interested to know what you think about it. Terjo

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Terjo]

I have to say I am not surprised by all the flack as so many Gps and cardiologists are still living in the middle ages. The people I know and respect have accepted that aspirin is discredited for treatment of AF but sadly the NICE guidelines on this are seven years old and Gps in particular hide behind this. I was at a meeting a few years ago where Prof Greg Lip was talking to medics about the subject and they were saying that patients didn't want warfarin. The truth is that doctors are scared of it. Statistically if a doctor has a patient on warfarin with a gastric bleed he is ten times less likely to prescribe warfarin in the next six months than before yet present him with a patient who has a stroke due to not being properly anticoagulated and he will not think anything of it and continue to ignore the truth. AFA , Stroke Association and friends have been fighting this reluctance for some time. UK has the lowest percentage of at risk patients on anticoagulants in most of Europe (I think Latvia may be behind us). We could save at least 7000 strokes a year and maybe 3000 deaths if we could change this. Rant over!

BobD

[Terjo in reply to BobD]

Thank you Bob, I do wish there was more information on this side of the condition. I'm not convinced by any of the statistics really as people are fallible ,also unique,statistics don't really take account of this.

I take asprin but I'm not happy taking it. The hope is that one day we can all be plugged into a machine and tested for all the meds we require with out all the awful side effects that some of them cause. Better still we can avoid getting the condition before it starts. There ! that's my rant finished. Thank you again for answering my query. Did you read all the doctors replies? Terjo

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Terjo]

No I didn't because I trust my contacts who I know well from countless meetings and who are amongst the top people in their field in UK and Europe.

[Brutuscj in reply to BobD]

I have been informed I have a 3.2% chance of having a stroke( 8 times greater than average) and I have been advised to take warfarin. But that means 96 of us " at risk" will not have a stroke.

Surely research has been done to try to identify more closely why some are more at risk than others?

My cardiologist seems interested in whether my left atrium is dilating. I have had 3 echocardiograms in 4 years and apparently it is not. Has having a dilated atrium been linked to the pooling of the blood in the atria which is supposed to cause the clots?

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Brutuscj]

There is no scientific way to judge if a person may or may not have a stroke but statistics show that AF gives an increased risk of stroke by a factor of five. This is due to all sorts of reason better explained by the fact sheets on the main website than I It has been said before but I will repeat.. You could always stop taking warfarin but you can't undo a stroke. Personally I can't see the objection which so many people come up with. I don't play Russian Roulette myself.

Regarding the left atria, due to the uncontrolled fibrillation which AF is, there is a tendency for the left atria to expand or dilate. It has no bearing on blood pooling to my knowledge BUT changes to the inside surface brought on by AF can act like sediment in a water pipe to increase the likelyhood of clots forming. Controlling or stopping AF will normally allow the atria to return to normal but there is a body of opinion which suggests that this is not the case with stroke risk which seems to remain.

I know I keep saying this but treatment of AF is a very new science. It is only in the last 20 or so years that doctors have been paying much attention to it. Prior to that patients were told is was a non life threatening inconvenience and sent on their way. In 2007 the link with stroke was noted since which time much progress has been made in ensuring that people at risk are properly anticoagulated. The more you understand about AF and the more people you talk to then the more often you hear of family members who died from stroke who had AF. I also know of several friends who had strokes and then found they had AF. See what I mean about Russian Roulette?

Bob

[Brutuscj in reply to BobD]

Thanks for the detailed reply. I found it interesting that the link with stroke is so recent.

The constant need to check INR is what puts me off warfarin. Most of time I eat lots of greens, but sometimes none at all. Also my alcohol intake varies from day to day. How on earth am I going to know whether I am at the right level?

You do not seem to pay much attention to the new drugs which do not have this drawback. Why?

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Brutuscj]

It is a fear thing I'm afraid. I don't like the idea of taking something with no antidote. I am also old enough to remember thalidomide and am wary of any new drugs. That said if a patient is not able to tolerate warfarin for any reason, and a few can't then it is great to have alternatives. Unfortunately many health areas are reluctant to prescribe these NOACs (novel oral anticoagulants) like pradaxa etc due to the increased cost although there is an argument that lack of testing requirement reduces the relative expense.

Bottom line is that aspirin causes more problems than it stops for patients with AF.

BobD

[Bagrat in reply to BobD]

When I went to discuss starting warfarin as suggested by cardio I had a GP trainee interview me first ,then my now retired "doctor knows best" GP who was excellent by the way. GP trainee said I seemed to know everything about warfarin - bad move as I then got "the look" from GP. GP then regaled me with a tale of an MP who I would remember but trainee would not (too young), who having been taking warfarin for AF dropped dead of a cerebral bleed on the steps of 10 Downing St. This did not put me off, if that was the intention.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Bagrat]

It really is amazing how many old school GPs were so anti.

[Terjo]

Thank you for your reply. These were arguments for and against and contained quotes from previous papers as well.one must keep an enquiring mind, by the way I voted for the note from AFA to be printed to keep the subject in the forefront of the debate about AF treatments. Terjo

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Terjo]

Hi Terjo - Are you able to post the link to this report here?

Thanks.

[Terjo in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I got the link from the AFA I thought it was sent to everyone. They want to advertise the reply they wrote to the statement made in the BMJ about asprin and warfarin and the new anti coagulants. I'll try later today to find it for you.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Terjo]

It was the link to the statement made in the BMJ.

[Terjo in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi jeanjeannie , I'm so sorry but I can't find the article . It was sent to me by the AFA to sign, but I can't find it ? I'll try to ring the AFA tomorrow and ask them where it is.

[Offcut]

I have been on Warfarin since 1992 with a very small gap and had no major problems bar the up and downs on my INR due to food, weather, Stress and tablet changes etc,

I read the abridged version on aspirin and I agree Aspirin should be scraped!

[lizzily]

Hi Dulcimer, yes, the same thing happened to me about 3 days after I had started Warfarin one night after I had taken it on an empty stomach. I actually felt nauseous for a couple of weeks and my GP thought I'd caught a stomach bug, but I felt sure it was the Warfarin. I now make sure I take it with food and I'm fine. Hope you feel better soon.

[porridgequeen]

Hi Dulcimer and Lizzily,

When I started on warfarin earlier this year my anti-coagulation nurse told me to always take it at the same time in the evening (she recommended around 6-7pm) and during or after a meal. Never on an empty stomach.

Hope that helps.

[Dulcimer in reply to porridgequeen]

Hi porridgequeen and Lizzily

I did take my first dose on an empty stomach as the instructions say take it with or without food. Last night I took it with food and was fine, let's hope it goes well again tonight!

Thanks everyone for your replies.

[harmonykm]

Hi, my husband has experienced the nasty taste in his mouth, but not the other symptoms. Over time, it has subsided. Do not quit taking Warfarin until you talk to your doctor. You could cause more trouble for yourself without his advice. Good Luck! :) Karen