Will the flu jab effect INR - Atrial Fibrillati...
Will the flu jab effect INR
People keep asking that and the answer is NO? Why would it? How could it? NO it can't.
BobD
i had a flu jab last wednesday and have been fine! I had looked it up first and there was discussion years ago that it might have an effect but in recent literature it says no effect noticed!! I did wonder if it's because the type of flu jab varies as different flu strains emerge and maybe in the past there was interaction with whatever strain of flu was included- any way- no effect of INR this week and I have felt fine!
Not quite true BobD...
I went for my comparison check to Harefield this week and my anticoagulation nurse said good I had informed her I had it done.
Apparently it can but not always does create a peak up to two weeks after it has been done. For this reason she asked me to take readings weekly for a couple of weeks as things are unstable for me at the moment.
Only repeating what she told me as I would not know about this myself.
tk, Far be it for me to argue with Harefield but I think that this is over egging the pudding . There is a joke in there if you understand that the (dead) virus is grown in eggs. Since it is a dead virus you can't catch flu from it and since there are no drugs in it it can't affect anything in your diet etc. All it does is introduce the shape of the virus to your white blood cells so that should they meet it again they will fight it. How that could possibly affect INR is beyond me and nobody has ever come up with that story before to my knowledge. I have been taking warfarin since 2005 and having flu jabs every winter since before that and I think somebody would have mentioned it by now.
BobD
As I said I was only repeating what she told me as I would not have known... will do her testing anyway.
Hi Blooto. I don't know enough yet to disregard my anticoagulation nurse advise.
I know many members have lots of knowledge but I am a relative newbie so take all advise from the hospital.
My INR is jumping all over the place so I am very grateful for the support.
Just seen this on hospital advice page, it may help...
Some common drugs that will affect INR
Some heart drugs such as amiodarone.Some analgesics (pain killers); such as long term use of paracetamol.Aspirin, although they should not be given to children under 16 years of age except on advice of a healthcare professional.Ibuprofen.Some antibiotics such as erythromycin and clarithromycin.The flu vaccine - side effects of the flu vaccine can include flu-like symptoms and it is advisable to check your INR level a few days afterwards to check it has not been affected.
Vitamins.Steroids.This is not a complete list, it is important to check with a pharmacist if buying ‘over the counter’ medicines or your prescriber when starting any new medicines. Make sure your anticoagulation team are aware when you start any new medicines so that they can advise you if and when an INR check is needed.
Declared flu jab at INR test. Nurses consulted together and agreed they don't bring people back early after jab.
Any illness can affect your clotting rate so whether you've got a cold or 'flu-like' symptoms from your flu jab you should report this at your anticoag clinic. Also, if you're feeling under the weather you're more likely to take OTC drugs which should also be reported.
But you should not get any symptoms from your flu jab as it doesn't give you anything.!
BobD
It's known as the cell mediated response. Antigens can be either live (such as viruses and bacteria) or inactivated (vaccines). The immune system develops a defense against the antigen. This defense is known as the immune response and usually involves the production of protein molecules by B lymphocytes, called antibodies (or immunoglobulins), and of specific cells (also known as cell-mediated immunity) whose purpose is to facilitate the elimination of foreign substances - in this case the flu virus.
Hi blooto
To be honest with you . I don't see any problem here. My INR is never stable and more often than not I have my blood tested every week through my choice.end of the day ,if it brings you peace of mind . Then get it checked weekly until YOU feel happy
Had my flu jab this morning. When I asked my GP if it was possible it would react with or affect any of the medications I take I was told no. That was good enough for me. If my INR fluctuates for a brief time then that is not a major concern. Suffering with flu would be!
Hi Langara
If my INR fluctuated even for a brief time, I would be concerned if it dropped to below 2 because then a clot is more likely to form which is worse than flu!
Hi Bob
Some people do get flu like symptoms from the jab, I dont know why, and if you do it could affect your INR. HAving said that it has never affected mine
This thread has triggered a light-bulb moment! Having stabilised my INR for five weeks, last week it had dropped to 2.0 from 2.5/6 without me having made any diet, meds or other changes.........except that I had had my fly jab five days before. Could that have been the reason? I have felt fine apart from the usual patches of tiredness which seem to affect a lot of us.
I've been told it shouldn't effect INR but I think its best to have it checked a week or two after having a flu jab.......better safe than sorry.
Doctor, Doctor. I think I have Swine Flu! Don't worry, just rub in this oinkment
Haaaaaaaaahahaha.........oink. Pass me a truffle!
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