Warfarin and dehydration

[wpw62]

Does anyone know or had experience of dehydration affecting INR levels. Mine keep getting higher despite warfarin being reduced. Had a couple of days in the heat doing more than usual but drinking less fluids. My GP thinks this might have caused it. Does anyone have any advice. I am waiting for my arythmia nurse to get back to me.

[BobD Volunteer]

Dehydration affects lots of things and is generally A BAD THING. I was once told that if your pee looks like lager then you are dehydrated and it should look like dry white wine. I remember a race at Monza a few years ago when I suddenly realised about 2 pm I hadn't had a pee that day and the 34 degree heat was giving me a really bad headache.The next day I drank about 3 litres of water.and still only went a little bit. If in doubt drink!

Bob

[wpw62 in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob I am going to drink plenty of water from now on

[hondajazz]

Good question.I haven't heard of this myself but I am having to discuss my warfarin in the next few days so i will ask about this.I am Diabetic as well so I am unsure wether it is warfarin or the diabetes that is affecting me when i am in the heat etc.

[jennydog]

I first read your post at 8am and decided that I would wait till after my INR was tested at 11 this morning before replying. This links with the MICTURITION discussion that we had on this site several months ago.

I do not usually have to get up in the night. This morning I awoke at 5.30 with AF and a full bladder. In the next 2 hours I produced 3 bladderfulls of urine. Where is it all coming from - was I dehydrated? I drank a mug of tea and a cup of water and ( feeling rotten ) went for the INR. It came in at 1.7. I have been very stable at 2.5 for ages.

They want to see me again on Friday.

Has anything else changed since the last test? Yes, I am trying to lose weight pre ablation. I have cut out sugar, no cakes, biscuits or sweeties for the past 7 weeks.

It seems that I can't do right for doing wrong!

[mumknowsbest Volunteer in reply to jennydog]

Af triggers a hormone which in fact makes you pee a lot, there were posts about it some time ago. Over to you Bob for the proper explanation

Eileen

[wpw62]

Thank you Jennydog and hondajazz. I have spoken with my arythmia nurse who advised me to lower my warfarin to 3 mg a day and get my INR level checked again tomorrow morning. I feel so confused about it all as I am trying to keep to the same foods all the time. They do want my INR to be a bit lower so will just have to wait and see.

[Bolander]

I suffered from severe dehydration after after winter vomiting disease earlier in the year and my INR levels were all over the place for some time afterwards. Hopefully like mine your INR level will settle down again - in the meantime make sure you drink plenty of fluids.