warfarin

[Reggie2019]

I should be taking7 mg of warfarin but only taking 5mg

[BobD Volunteer]

The amount is unimportant your resulting INR is all that matters. What is your question?

[Reggie2019 in reply to BobD]

Would it be all right to take 5mg till Tuesday?

[pottypete1]

Are you having regular INR blood tests?

If not you should be and you must adhere to the dose you are instructed to take after the results are established.

Warfarin is very good if used correctly but not so if the prescribed dose is not taken correctly.

I have been taking Warfarin for many years.

[Reggie2019]

Yes got to have blood test Tuesday doctor wont give me 1 mg in till blood test

[jeanjeannie50]

Perhaps your GP wants to build up the dose gradually. Who said you should take 7mg of Warfarin?

[Hidden]

Hello Reggie, welcome to the forum, I see you have only just joined us. This is not your fault but your question is almost impossible to answer due to not knowing more about your situation. If you have only just been diagnosed with AF, you Doctor may be keen to get you on Warfarin to help protect you from the increased risk of having a stroke due to the effect of having AF. This should have been explained to you but it is normal to start on a low dose and then have regular blood tests to monitor your INR which is the measurement used to determine the effectiveness of the warfarin. The plan is that you maintain your normal diet and the dose is adjusted up or down until your INR becomes stable and within range. This can take some weeks to achieve and it is important to keep to the recommended doses and have the regular blood tests. I expect the Bank Holiday may be part of the problem.

What you have told us so far is a bit confusing and because we are not medically trained and because we don’t know your personal circumstances, we cannot advise on medication, particularly doses.

If there is anything you can add to give us a clearer picture of your situation we may be able to help you more but talking about 5mg, 7mg and 1mg is a bit confusing. I hope you understand what I mean……..

[Hidden]

Reggie,

Sorry, don't really understand your query ?????

If you are talking about Tuesday 30 August ............ not gonna make any difference at all in the short run like that. That said I assume you are in your theraputic range - whatever that is for you. So for example, if your theraputic range is an INR of 2.0 to 3.0 and your target INR is 2.5 and your actual last measured INR is 2.3 then in the 48 hours left till Tuesday any variation in your dose is very very unlikely to impact on your INR .... even if your INR is unstable over time.

Do you have a self testing device like the Coaguchek XS Self Testing device. Makes life so much easier especially if you can get your test strips on prescription - you can monitor away to your little hearts content.

I like Flapjacks reply, answer that and you might get more useful answers.

Anyhow, my reply is based on my personal observations of the behaviour of Warfarin doses ( and my INR) and how changes in the dose respond to the passing of time. Also in the light of 3 medical procedures, 1) a CT Scan, 2) Knee replacement surgery and 3) cortisone injection into the right shoulder.

John

[Thomas45]

I understand your query to be that you've been taking 7mg, but you've only got 5mg tablets, and your GP won't give you any 1mg tablets until you have had a blood test.It may be that the rate at which your blood coagulates is not yet stable, and your GP wants to see what the rate is. The rate is called INR. He must think the INR is on the high side, so two or three days at 5mg won't cause a problem.

Other things apart from your Warfarin tablets can raise the INR. Antibiotics can raise INR, and alcohol can raise it.