Altitude and Warfarin

joey66 · Dec 10, 2013

Does anyone have any knowledge about concerns with Warfarin when being at altitude? We will be in Colorado skiing this Christmas and I have seen some comments other places on the internet that say that altitude can lower INR. We will only be there for a week and I home monitor so I suppose I could do a test after being at altitude for several days to see if it drops but I hesitate to make any major adjustments in my dose because I don't want to start a roller coaster. I now this is the anti-coagulation thread but I a also curious if there is anything else I should consider while skiing - besides wearing a helmet to protect the old brain bucket.....

clay_from_nj · Dec 10, 2013

I live in the Denver area and never heard anything like that.

A quick Google search found this: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16544965.

pellicle · Dec 10, 2013

For a week there I can't imagine it'll make a difference (assu,king it makes a difference).

Fully agree with your roller coaster summary.

Skiing... downhill skiing or cross country? I'm assuming downhill. If you intend any "off piste" then knee pads. Mate of mine totally smashed his knee on a rock in the deep powder.

Enjoy! I just got back in from a few Km of skiing round the lake here in Finland

Was nice and cool this morning -23°C

chaconne · Dec 10, 2013

I've been up at over 10,000 feet in the Sierra Nevada Mountains for a week the last two summers and it didn't seem to affect my INR.

Stopper · Dec 10, 2013

I too live in Colorado and go into the high country all the time. I haven't noticed any abnormal INR changes, but I have never checked my INR while I am there. Hope you have a great trip!