Is it okay to alternate 2.5 mg and 3.0 mg of Warfarin every other day?

[iwantsimple]

I've read that we need to be very careful about decreasing dosages, but my doc wants me to alternate day to day. Does anyone else do this? I seem to need 2.75 mg.

[MaryH]

Hi there, After the loading dose at the very beginning I take 2.5mgs and 2 mgs every other day, if you follow. I take 2mg on Monday then 2.5mg on Tuesday and then back to 2 mg on Wednesdayand so on. If I need to alter doseage for example if it is too high I do not take any that day. Quite frankly it has never been too low, not yet at least. Hope that helps. Love MaryH xxx.

[iwantsimple]

Do you feel any different from day to day? I read that it takes 2 days for Warfarin to fully take affect, so I'm guessing it won't matter. Just curious what experiences everyone has had...

[sharonap]

At the moment Iam taking 4 mg two days 5mg rest ( Tues and Thurs 4mg) I have INR taken weekly and it changes constantly. Only stop if INR above 5. If below 3 now been told need Heparin injection as well.

[Lesley_D]

I was on 7 and 8mg alternating this is for my INR to between 3 - 4 - I also have my INR taken weekly as it has never stabilised. the last 2 weeks my INR has been up to 5.5 we reduced slightly it didn't go down so reduced now to 7 daily - for me I can drop from 5 down to 2 overnight so they don't like to stop me, also if I drop from 3 or below I need to inject fragmin. I feel better if my INR is around the 4, at 5 and above I seem to suffer lots of angina, too high or low and my brain just doesn't want to function on any normal level.

Keep well and safe

smiles Lesley

[dj-92457]

I alternate 4mg and 5mg every other day, to keep my INR between 2.5 and 3.0 been doing this for over a year now seem's to be working for me! Still think i would feel better if my INR was 3.0-4.0.......Take Care.......Don

[iwantsimple]

Thanks, everyone! Very helpful!

I feel 100 times better when my INR is around 3.5. I haven't read anyone on this board say that they felt good below 3.0. Maybe the docs should take notice of this???

[Renae]

I think most of us alternate doses. Right now I take 12.5 mg 3 days a week and 15 mg 4 days a week. I know I take a high dose, but have been on it for almost 18 years, and I have 3 clotting disorders...

Good luck..

[Kentish_Man]

Warfarin is slow acting so it will not be a problem. I take 18 & 19 mg on alternate days. I have been on Warfarin for over 5 years now. When I have any medical procedure done, I have to stop the Warfarin 6 days before and then go on to injections (Fragmin or Clexane etc.) and then it takes about 8 or 9 days after restarting the Warfarin for it to get back to my correct level.

My INR is kept between 3 & 4 after I found that I felt better at a higher INR. I then told my Specialist and he agreed that it would be best for me to be on that level.

Good luck & keep well

[77tiger05]

I take 5mg one day & 7.5mg the next. Been this way for almost 18 years.

[GinaD]

I thought my alternate dose regimen was unusual! So im not that weird! I currently alternate 7.5, 7.5, 10. mgs over 3 days and my INR remains quite stable.

But has anyone else had to deal with the akwardness of explaining to a waitress; " I'm sorry. You told me the salad was based on iceberg lettuce, but I see it is based on spinach and kale. I can't eat this. I've already met my Vitamin K amount for this half week."

Or do you do what I do and pack the salad in a to go box and leave the restaurant with a growling stomach?

Gina

[Zezes-nan]

When I first started on warfarin they had been alternating dosage now I've satblised its the same every day. If you have concerns talk to the anticoagultant nurse or your Doctor

[panda60]

I don't take the same dose each day and don't think I ever have.. But it does help if you remember which day of the week it is - was convinced last Tuesday was Wednesday and took the dose for that day! I self-test, so checked two days later, but it was ok. I now have a piece of paper on the kitchen table to remind me what day it is.

Caroline

[Susiec]

I take 7.5 for two days then 5 and start over again I try and keep my INR between 2-3 and do pretty good... good luck

[Elisabeth]

Hi I generally alternate between 8 mg and 9 mg with the odd 10 mg thrown in when it dips, i have self tested for as many years as I can remember and this regimen seems to work well for me. My INR like most peoples is wildly unstable and is greatly affected by diet excercise etc. Life is too short to cut warfarin tablets in half so alternating and topping up where necessary works for me!! Love to all xxx