I would LIKE TO KNOW WHAT COULD BE US... - Atrial Fibrillati...
I would LIKE TO KNOW WHAT COULD BE USED FOR AF - IN PLACE OF WARFARIN !?
Hi Badbrunnen
Could you please not use Capitals and Bold, in internet terms this is shouting, and I am sure you do not mean this.
OK there are alternatives to warfarin, all of the newer anti-coagulants, but you will need to talk to your doctor about them, they can be reluctant to dispense them due to costs (they are very expensive compared to warfarin). So unless you have a medical reason not tio use warfarin, it can be very difficult for some people to get the other anti-coagulants.
May I ask why you wish to use one of the others?
Ian
BECAUSE NOBODY ON THE CONTINENT USES RAT POISON.
AND NOBODY HAS EVER TOLD ME NOT TO USE CAPITAL LETTERS OR BOLD. I HAVE HAD MY COMPUTER NOW FOR 4 YEARS. I SHALL USE CAPITAL IN FUTURE, AS MY ARTHRITIC SMALLEST FINGERS CAN'T REACH SO FAR LEFT AND RIGHT - FOR SPEED I NEED TO USE 10 FINGERS - WHICH OF COURSE NOT EVERYBODY CAN DO...............
I am sticking to Warfarin for now as the new drugs have not been out long and I don't want to be a guinea pig for the drug industry. 
Neither do rats any more. Not for many years. If you mean "The continent of Europe" then you are wrong as my brother in law lives in France and they use warfarin. Things like rivaroxaban, ipixaban and dabigatran have only been around for about three years so up till then there was no alternative. Warfarin has been used for many years with very little problems whereas these new drugs currently have no antidote so I for one wouldn't use them unless warfarin caused problems.. You also say "for AF" whereas I presume you mean for anticoagulation for stroke prevention in AF as warfarin has no effect on atrial fibrillation.
Bob
Hi Badbrunnen
I am certain that in France they use warfarin very widely, I was there last summer and had to attend an anti-coag clinic and it was all warfarin. It's only been about 2 or maybe 3 years that the new drugs have been available, so prior ot that it was warfarin, heparin or nothing.
Warfarin has a long history of successful use, it's easy to take minimal side effects for most people, and only a tiny variation to diet, it can also be easily reversed. It's downside is bloodtesting and getting the balance correct.
The newer anti-coags require no blood tests, no dietary changes, and the downsides are no reversal agent yet and the costs, which NICE say are £388 a year for warfarin, and roughly £3,200 per year for newer anti-coagulants, and that includes the testing for warfarin it's a very cheap drug.
So I suggest that if you really are anti warfarin, and I am not sure why, you start rehearsing your argument for the doctors, as they are not easily persuaded.
Ian
Warfarin is all right, I've found. The rats and I highly recommend it.
interesting to see the cost difference for warfarin and alternatives. In Greece its Warfarin too. I was told many moons ago not to use capitals and abide by it unless really annoyed lol.
A FRIEND HERE IN E.SUSSEX TOLD ME THE COST DIFFERENCE IS APPROX.£3000 P.A. !!
SHE DECIDED TO STAY ON WARFARIN FOR NOW [WOLF- PARKINSONS AND AF] BUT BOUGHT HER OWN MONITOR FOR CA. £300 - SO NO MORE BLOOD CHECK-UPS AT THE DOCTORS - SHE IS ONLY 60 AND ALSO HAS A PACEMAKER - AS WELL AS 3 OF HER CHILDREN !!
I'm on pradaxa and have been for 18 months since my TIA following an episode of AF . No problems at all encountered!
I should add that I was given the choice of warfarin or dabigatran . It was an easy choice. No INR , no eating restrictions etc etc. my stroke consultant prescribed it with no problems although the GP wasn't too happy because of costs. It will come down in price soon when it becomes generic. I did not want to take warfarin!
Apart from not drinking Cranberry juice there are no eating restrictions when taking Warfarin. I eat vitamin K-rich foods and my warfarin dose is higher to take account of them.
I was put on Rivaroxaban by my GP when I thought I was getting rashes and pain in my arms, but that turned out to be a result of taking Losartan, a blood pressure lowering drug.
I was happy to be back on Warfarin as there is no antidote to Rivaroxaban. The INR level aimed at is at a safe level (2 to no more than 3.5). The highest I've ever been was 5.1, which is still a safe level, and that was my first blood test after coming off Rivaroxaban. I am now back below 3. For my own peace of minf I bought my own blood testing machine (coaguchek). The nurse rings me up and asks me what the INR is, and she adjusts the dose as necessary, but there's been no need to adjust the dose in the last 4 months.
It's Warfarin in Italy too. They are still discussing the use of the newer anti-coags. and my GP told me it will be prescribed by the anti-coag. centre and there will still have to be check-ups. The Italians do like to make life difficult! Btw I live in the north of Italy, things are more advanced than in the south
I asked my EP if I could be considered for an alternative to Warfarin, just to avoid the hassle really. But he said because I may be due for another procedure, best to stay on Warfarin.
On the caps issue. It is nice to see the first letter of each sentence etc in capitals !!!
Koll
I AM BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND THAT MOST PEOPLE STILL USE WARFARINTHI - THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR REPLYING WITH YOUR KIND AND HELPFUL ADVICE!!
I THINK IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA IF PEOPLE WOULD GIVE THEIR AGE - I AM 72 AND WOULD THINK THAT A 45 YEAR OLD MIGHT HAVE DIFFERENT REACTIONS AND REASONS FOR AF??!
KIND REGARDS
Badbrunnen
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