Hi noticed recently comments by several people about chronic kidney problems associated with taking certain medications including Warfarin .... I take Warfarin and have recently been told I have CKD and will need regularly monitoring. Is this a recognised side effect and what happens if kidneys continue to deteriorate?
Warfarin?: Hi noticed recently comments... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Warfarin?
I am not aware of any real problem with warfarin and kidneys. As we age.our kidney function does deteriorate quiet a lot and since many here are at least retirement age reduced function may be be noted. I know that I have had regular testing every year since 65 and been on warfarin the whole time with no major problem .
Warfarin does not cause renal impairment as far as I know. If it did you would not still be on it presumably.
Occasionally the dose may need to be reduced, from what I have read.
The dose of DOADs is commonly reduced in CKD
I've got EGFR figures (Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate - a measure of renal function) going back to before I started on warfarin and there was no change when I started it. Indeed the EGFR has gone up a bit since though that may be due to my successful ablation or that I've cut down on intensive exercise which tends to skew the results.
You're probably better off on warfarin as at least its effect can be measured. Anti-coagulation is even more important then before as the CKD/AF combination is high risk. I assume you have a Coaguchek?
Mark
I had slightly reduced kidney function before starting Warfarin, due to a side effect of Perindopril, but this has remained stable while on Warfarin, so there does not appear to have been any adverse effect.