Antibiotics

[amy1808]

Hi guys , I have never had to have antibiotics whilst on Warafrin until now . Will my INR go up or plummet x

[MaryF Administrator]

Everyone is different but some find an infection or the antibiotic or both can make it become a bit unstable, so do keep a closer eye, hope it is not too much of a bumpy trot for you. MaryF

[panda60]

Best to test INR when suggested by your clinic. Different medications can push INR up or down.

[KellyInTexas Administrator]

Begin a probiotic- if you can. By pharmacist recommended florasror. Will not affect the INR. ( diarrhea from antibiotics will affect the INR!)

[ndstephens49]

How your INR responds depends on the type of antibiotic and how you respond to it. A good idea is INR’s frequently (even daily ) and adjust Coumadin accordingly. Keep a diary of antibiotic and dosage and INR results so in the future if you take antibiotics again you know what to expect.

Levaquin (in US) is one antibiotic that does not affect INR much. Your pharmacist is a good source of information for particular antibiotics.

Since I have immune deficiency in addition to clotting problems, I have probably been on antibiotics 50 times in last 10 years. I have been on Coumadin for over 22 years. Important thing is frequent INR checks with antibiotics or any new medication.

Nancy in West Virginia

[Yllek]

I’ve had them a few times and my INR goes up. However, my Drs are never sure whether it’s the antibiotics or the infection itself. My latest infection and antibiotics resulted in an INR of 8.7!

Plenty of checks whilst you’re on them and for a short while after finishing.

Hope you feel better soon.

[Fra22-57]

Mine goes up like a rocket

[murphylotte]

I just had a very bad tonsilitis and was in hospital because the antibiotic didn’t work.. i was full of pain medication ect and my inr was perfect all way through. So i think it’s depending on the person.. get well soon 😁

[WendyWoo50]

Hi infection, changes to meds, changes to diet, antibiotics, altering doses of Azathioprine all have a dramatic affect on my INR.

Three weeks ago I had a 12-hour tummy bug (first one for tears) and am still paying! My target INR is 4.0

First check of INR was a week after the bug:

INR - 11.2 vit K given

Next day INR 4.7

4-days later INR 7.8

2-days later INR 11.2 vit k given

Next day INR 3.8 (no pattern)

Going again Monday (3-days later)

It's a nightmare and I've felt awful. Exhausted when 11.2. Full of energy at 4.7.

Please keep a close eye on yours, even after you stop taking them. Hopefully it won't affect you! 💋

[KellyInTexas Administrator in reply to WendyWoo50]

In what form are you administered vitamin k? I see it brings down your INR. Is it alwYs just for one day? What is the formula?

One unit of ? To bring INR down by one number for one 24 hour period? Is it dependably precise?

[ndstephens49 in reply to KellyInTexas]

I had Vit K prior to Gall Bladder removal in 2003. I don’t think it’s precise. The doctors just want INR down so they could do surgery. Again, it’s probably a very individual response to Vit K.

Nancy

[KellyInTexas Administrator in reply to ndstephens49]

Hmmm. Darn. Wouldn’t it be nice to have at least one known commodity?!?!

It’s like trying to hit two moving targets without your scope sighted in right and your eyes crossed.

[WendyWoo50 in reply to KellyInTexas]

Both times I had 0.2mg vit k orally.

That should bring it into range full stop. But not for me!

Both tims it gave different results

11.2 - 4.7 in 24 hours

11.2 - 3.8 in 24 hours

No dependability for me. No magic formula - I wish lol 💋

[Kerlampert]

It depends on which antibiotic. I know that Cipro will raise your INR quite a bit.

The others are variable. You should check on Google or with the pharmacist

And check your INR often while taking the prescribed antibiotic.

[Ray46]

Will your INR go up or plummet (or in fact stay the same) ?

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer: it can do anything, depends on the antibiotic, the infection and the individual. There are a lot of antibiotics which are documented for increasing _and_ decreasing INR depending on the individual, and even for other antibiotics there are many individuals who do not respond by the documentation.

As a general rule if changing meds, and particularly antibiotics, keep a close eye on your INR - I self-test and test once a week normally, but every 2-3 days when changing meds.

[PsychNurse]

I took Doxycycline for 10 days for pneumonia...Didn't do anything to my INR. I was lucky!