wafarin

[Forgetful]

anyone know if taking wafarin 12 hours apart is safe?

[fairgo45]

No I wouldn't recommend it.If you've missed one take the next dose at usual time then get tested.

I bought my own machine to monitor my INR it was money well spent

[Anon2023]

hi. I wouldn’t risk it because I don’t know if it’s safe or not. There’s someone on this forum called ILowe who seems to know a lot about warfarin so maybe he will answer and shed some light on it.

[Classof1988]

The best advice I can give is if in doubt don't take the dose but record it and when you next get tested let the clinic know that you missed a dose on the day you did, there should be a place on the INR test form to record this. If you miss more than one dose then a retest would be appropriate.From.what I was told going through the rehab process, with an artificial valve and not taking any Warfarin it would take a week or two before you had any form of clot that would be dangerous so missing one dose should not be something to worry about. Try to get into a routine of always taking Warfarin at a set time each day, I take mine just before going to bed every night, this should help you to remember.

[Art-99]

I've checked on the guidance in the past, having been on warfarin for 4 years. I try to take my dose around 6-7pm, but if I've missed it, perhaps been out for the evening, I'll wait until the next day and take the dose at my usual time. Most prescribed medications stay in the system for days or weeks in some cases; I'd never take more than my regular dose of warfarin within a 24 hour period.

[ILowe]

Could you please explain a little? Have you forgotten to take your Warfarin and suddenly remembered? Are you travelling and changing time zones?

[Forgetful in reply to ILowe]

No not in a different time zone just -forgot a couple of doses- I've been checked this morning and INR is on its way up again. However, I do sometimes think the computer recommendations are a little on the cautious side

[gladliz]

We are all different, but I tend to take my various meds at 4 hourly intervals through the day. But this is not set in stone, sometimes it can be 5hrs apart, depends on what I am doing. If I had missed taking my warfarin then I would take it as soon as I remembered, then pace the next doses +/- an hour or so over the next few days until back at my usual time.

Perhaps I am fortunate in that my readings are within my range and I only get tested every 8-10 weeks. Unless I've been on antibiotics or had a procedure of some sort.

If you are really concerned then perhaps contact your surgery or the BHF nurses for advice.

[Deejay62]

I take warfarin 6pm every day. If you’ve accidentally missed a dose the day before don't take an extra dose. Contact your warfarin clinic and let them know they will instruct you as to what to do. Please don’t take it 12 hrs apart that can be dangerous.

Warfarin isn’t like other meds

I’m sure you was given a yellow book with a contact number. Please contact the clinic if ever in doubt.

[ILowe]

A lot of good advice here. As others have said, the standard advice is that if you forget to take your medicine and remember the same evening or a few hours later, then take it. If you remember the next day then leave it away and take your normal medicine as usual, and inform the warfarin clinic next time you do a test.

A similar question is: "I am not sure if I have taken it, so what do I do?" The answer is that if you are not sure, then don't; never risk a double dose.

If you have access to your own testing equipment you can be more sophisticated. If my INR is low then I would take a half-ish dose straight away then resume normal. If the INR was high then I would follow the standard advice.

If you imagine warfarin dosing to be like a reservoir, with the INR being like the height of the water, the dose being water in, and loss of warfarin being water out,.. then what is happening is this. Missing a dose adjusts the reservoir level.

[Pefki]

Put an alarm on your phone and don't ignore it. Also, I have heard there is an app which you can set up to remind you to take your medication with you once you leave your home wifi range. My father also has the alarm on his phone so even though we don't live together, he won't relax until he knows I've taken my medication at 6.30pm. I am 4 months post surgery and 4 months on warfarin. All the other advice above is correct, don't take double doses, don't take more than a few hours late. If you forget twice, go and get tested. Warfarin is a pain but until they find an alternative, we have to be disciplined. Good luck.