I used to enjoy a drink, maybe a little too much, before being diagnosed with endocarditis and having an AVR. I now take warfarin and was told 1 pint a day is the limit. I'm not looking to drink everyday or go out and get smashed but it would be nice to meet up with friends and have a few beers on an occasional Saturday. To be honest I did last week and had 7 pints but sat over them. I was out for about 5/6 hours. I did feel a little drunk as I hadn't been drinking for about 9 months but was ok the next day just a little tired.( I don't miss the hangovers!!!). I must admit I was a bit self conscious on Sunday because I felt I done wrong! I have met so many people now who take warfarin and have a few drinks. Anyone on here take warfarin that has any views on this??
Alcohol on Warfarin???: I used to enjoy... - British Heart Fou...
Alcohol on Warfarin???
Hi Stevo1979
I don't take warfarin, but the BHF advise is as per this link:-
I've recently switched to Heineken 0% and have to say I have been pleasantly surprised.
The link supplied by SpiritoftheFloyd supplies most of the answers. Anything more than the guidelines affects the action of the warfarin which can make it impossible to achieve a stable INR. It can also cause a build up of warfarin in the system leading to liver damage. And as mentioned it could result in a serious, and potentially fatal, bleed.
I’ve been on warfarin for over 20years, have I given up alcohol in all those years, no I haven’t!
Having recently been on holiday my alcohol consumption did increase, not going to say no to a cocktail.
Generally tho I have a pint when I go to footy, it’s traditional, so has to be done.
Other than that in the hot weather I have a beer or a Pimms and sometimes a gin.
The thing with warfarin is moderation and consistency, I’m not going to make my life miserable, socialising is good for your mental health.
J
Stevo1979. I have been on warfarin 33 years. I have never been a heavy drinker but I enjoy a couple of glasses of red wine with dinner. My view is, warfarin does not control my life. I am in control of it. I understand it must be hard for those who like to drink a lot but you’re a long time dead!
Just try and be sensible, ha ha
You’ll know if you’ve had too much. 👍
Yes no interest in drinking heavily but do enjoy the social side and Having a few pints the odd saturday
Great response Suzy! Ditto
Hi Laura. It helps to have your own machine to check your INR yourself. I wouldn’t be without mine. They’re quite expensive, I paid £300 a few years ago but well worth it. It gives you peace of mind plus not so many trips to the anticoagulant clinic 👍
So what do you do if u have a drink ?? Test yourself the next day or before you take that nights dose and adjust if necessary? How would you know how much to adjust
Neither. I usually check it every 2/3 weeks and if it’s a bit high or low I can ring the clinic. Think it takes a few days for alcohol or at the other end of the spectrum, green veg to take effect. But like somebody else said consistency is the key. If you drink regularly then your warfarin dose will be adjusted to take that into account. Also I only ring the clinic if my INR is too high or low. If it’s not way out I carry on with same dose and it evens out. A bit trial and error 👍
There are now some very good 0 or 0.5% beers. Brewdog Nanny State or Adnams Ghost Ship I find excellent and I forget that there is no alcohol when I’m sipping And socialising.
Just give up alcohol, try Clausthaler alcohol free beer its really good, inexpensive and healthy. Alcohol is just bad for us.
hi mate i used 2be a alcholic then i found out about my heart condition then i had surgery and now got a mechanical avr and on warfrin 4 the the rest of my life.i was told if my warfrin gets my blood thick it can stick 2 the valve and cause it 2 stop working.but i still have the odd beer and theres plenty of drink free drinks on the market which taste like alchol so you can drink on warfrin just learn how 2 control how many you can have b4 it effects ur inr level.1pharmacy told me if ur going 2 have a drink cut ur warfrin back on that day 2 suit how much u drink.
Hi,
I am waiting for that operation and will go for what you have, may I ask how long it took you to get back on your feet. And how do you feel now.
Regards,
Simon
I feel great now, had operation on 4th December back to work in February ( desk job). I felt really good after a few days after op, I had been pretty bad beforehand with the infection. I did develop a pericardial effusion a few weeks after the surgery which had to be drained in hospital which wasn't nice. My advice would be to get on the cardiac rehab course as it really helps physically and mentally.
was up walking nxt day but there are alot of things in recovery which get overlooked like depression emotions and getting used 2 the valve ticking.but make sure u use a pillow on ur chest after sirgery as when u cough or even worse sneeze its like being shot.all ok now thoe and recovery depends on every1 2b honnest as i had minnium invaseive and am very strong in upper body took me a while.but once eberything settles dowm it has fef made a difrence 2 my life.goodluck
Not on Warfarin myself but my 24 year old granddaughter has been taking Warfarin since she was 13. She self tests and very rarely drinks alcohol because it affects her INR levels and she has to adjust her Warfarin
Drinking seven pints out of the blue will affect your warfarin level. If you drink regularly ( in moderation) !!! Your dosage can be adjusted accordingly so wont do any harm. That amount of beer can't do your condition any good anyway i.e it will put a strain on your condition.
🍺🍺🍺👍
Hello,
I take warfrin but going to take a different drug in the coming weeks, I drink twice a week a few tins of John Smiths on Friday and a bottle of wine on a Saturday. I don't feel bad about it, I love life and feel very lucky, but I've seen healthy people get struck down with terrible, terrible diseases and die. So my advise is to live your life find a moderation and be happy, it does more good to smile and laugh with friends than worrying about medication. It's just my opinion. All the best and stay healthy and happy they are the 2 most important things that money cannot buy.
Regards
Simon
The drinking culture in this country doesn't help. Feeling you have to keep up and buy your round normally ends up with a hangover and the long term damage binge drinking sessions do to your body.
I found it was important when out with my buddies for a drink to tell them I couldn't keep up as I was on medication, and there really wasn't a problem. They weren't offended, I still bought my round but tended to nurse a couple of pints rather than have several...and to be honest, I still had a great night and I felt a lot better in the morning.
Hi stevo1979
I have HF and AF and have been told to reduce my alcohol intake, I too like a few beers and as others have said sometimes to do need to relax and not worry about what might or might not happen.
Lifestyle changes will help as will staying positive and happy.
Enjoy a pint when you fancy it and dont give yourself a hard time.
Cheers
I guess (haven't read all replays) I'm probably in the minority here, I had avr and an aneurysm repair 7 years ago, been on warfarin since, I drink regular ( consistency is the key with warfarin), less so recently as trying to lose weight.
I've found that drinking in moderation has never been an issue for me
( we are all different) for me a couple of glasses of wine a night hasn't been a problem X
Whatever you do, it helps if you keep it consistent, the same with eating greens/liver etc
Imo if you fancy a drink you should have one, but in moderation X
Have fun and enjoy x
Stevo, thanks for pointing me towards this post. I've not had a drop of booz since 28th March. I've been worried about it. I was told I could have one a day. I know they say consistency is good but I'm sure there's going to be the odd weekend where 4-7 beers is called for. We've got to live and I can see that people are doing mostly what makes them happy. Within moderation. I'm feeling much better about my outlook having been on here. Cheers everyone.
Oh good luck with this. Read that link. I'm fortunate drinking alcohol isn't something I have to juggle with or ever even think about.
My hubby is on warfarin after AVR and needing mechanical valve. Before op, drinking wine and beer, and in greater measures than national guidelines recommend, was part of his life. He is still finding it very difficult trying to to get used to the thudding and clanking of the new metal valve so having to also give up something that for him is one of life's pleasures was an additional annoying consequence of having a metal valve. He stopped drinking completely for a couple of months after the op and then gradually started having a glass or two again. He is consistent over a week, having no alchohol at the beginning of the week and then three glasses a night at the end of the week. Ideally for warfarin he should probably spread his drinking evenly over the week or not drink at all ... He is fortunate that his INR is not effected and everything else about him such as heart rate, blood pressure and fitness levels are in good order. Enjoying a few beers down the pub with his mates once a week and a few glasses of wine over the weekend is something he has always enjoyed and is keen to continue enjoying. If having a drink is one of life's pleasures for you I would say be honest with your Dr and see what their opinion is and hopefully you can fit a few drinks alongside your warfarin. Cheers!
My consultant would prefer that I did not drink but with Warfarin I was told to not binge drink once or twice a week but to drink small!! amounts on a regular basis.
I had an AVR in December 2019. At the moment I am finding the zero alcohol beers work for me. This could be due to lockdown though. I may well have a drink if and when things ever return to normal. The key with alcohol as with the food is moderation. If you like a tipple occasionally then my view is carry on. It will however invariably affect your INR levels, so make sure you mention it when you go for your test. Everyone is different. I have found it easier just to cut out certain things. I would rather go for an INR test every 6 to 8 weeks, rather than every 1 to 3 weeks, but that is just my choice. As other commenters have also said, consistency is the key. So if you do like a drink, then be consistent with it (obviously within reason). Similarly with the foods that affect your INR (kale, broccoli etc, etc). Be consistent in their consumption. That way your INR levels are more likely to remain stable. I guess at the moment I have chosen the easy way by cutting out alcohol and kale, broccoli and asparagus. But time will tell, never say never. I am a newbie at all this, and thanks to sites like this, I’m still learning stuff almost every day.
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