Does anybody know whether INR levels are afftected by the weather?

[didiz]

My INR has dropped below it's target range and my diet has been consistent.

[Manofmendip]

Hi.

I can't say that I ever noticed it myself, when I was on Warfarin.

Best wishes.

Dave

[fluffy_kitten]

I asked this question last week when I went for a blood test. The nurse said no, but your levels can change if you're eating different foods this time of year.

hope this helps

Sophie

[Glitterwitch]

I was wondering the same thing as my INR has unexpectedly risen this week. There has been no change in my diet, so not sure why it has happened.

[Sal0712]

I've been asking the same question. I should be around 3, at my test in November I was 2.9, then last wk went for my test and was 2.4. I've been having more headaches and generally feeling a little more under the weather, not made any better by having a bit of a virus and swollen glands, which are refusing to go down. My diet hasn't changed and I didn't drink too much alcohol over Christmas, when I did have a drink I followed it with a glass of water. Would be interesting to know if the weather can effect it !!! Sally x

[Kentish_Man]

I keep, more or less, to the same diet and my INR has been a constant 3.1 for 5 months. I had it tested last week and it was 4.4, the nurse was rather surprised and checked it again on a different machine and it was exactly the same.

[Annslack]

I read somewhere that there are higher rates of thrombosis in cold weather. So it would make some sense that the inr could change.

[justlymostly]

At my anti coag clinic today my INR had dropped to 2.8 (range should be 3-4). She adjusted dose and said cold CAN affect your INR. I asked why and she wasn't sure but thought it had something to do with the thyroid working harder to speed up metabolism generate more heat to keep warm. Not very scientific but does kinda make sense to me.

[CaliforniaGail]

My opposite experience supports the cold weather - lower INR theory. During the summer I traveled to Arkansas and was in constant HOT humid weather for a few weeks. HIGH INR (hit 10, then with taking no warfarin, dropped to 6.8 next day, then it was in the 4's for a week after. I keep mine between 2.0-3.0. A nurse told me that hot weather can affect it. Of course I figured it was more from me traveling-- less greens in restaurants and more wine tasting that raised my INR, but who knows, the hot weather probably contributed too.

[didiz]

Thank you for all the replies...the cold weather lowering my INR seems to make sense to me as my diet has been consistent even with a little extra wine and bubbly over Christmas and New Year(& am not a big drinker). My range is 2.5-3.5 and dropped from aan ave of 3 - 3.3 to 2.2 bringing with it slurred speech and visual type migraines...who knows??? we'll see at net blood test in Feb

[kathyD64]

I have been taking warfarin for 23yrs now i consistently i find hot weather causes it to rise so i have learnt to adjust my dose accordingly. I now feel safe travelling abroad as i got a coaguchek machine to guide me. Before i had it i would recognise the symptoms of a higher inr outside of my range and reduce by 1mg. But being on holiday in a warm climate also means i do drink more alcohol - no more than the allowed amount but back home i go weeks without so i have to take that into consideration as well kathyxx