Another INR Test Today

[Blanche]

JetSet:
See, Nancy was right!!!!Someone has made a mistake by giving you the wrong dose. It could be the pharmacy or it could be the way the preseciption was written.

The first thing I would do is call the pharmacy. Perhaps they made the mistake. If so, exchange the 2-1/2's for 2's. Problem solved. If this is no the pharmacy error, I would call the Doctor and leave a message on his service with the information and a request that he call you with instructions.

Given your circumstances: recent surgery, irregular INR results, out of range, and patient has little knowledge of anticoadulation, I would hate to see you have to make this decision on your own. None the less, if the doctor does not get back to you you'll have to decide what to take. If this happened to Albert, he would take 5 tonight and 9 tomorrow night. This would be based on the fact that you took 9 yesterday. Over a two day period, 5 and 9 would equal the two doses of 7 that were prescribed at the clinic.

In future,you may find that you will need different strengths of Coumadin/Warfarin so that you can make the dosages prescribed. And, yet, each strength is considered a separate prescription and requires a copayment. Right now, Albert has the following strengths: 2, 3, 5, 6. His current dose is 6-1/2 per day, but has been between 5 and 7 over the last year.

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Ummmmmmm, Ross the range for Mitral valves generally is 3.0 -3.5 When using bridge therapy (lovenox) they would let me come home and off at 2.5. Minimal target 3.0.

 

[tommy]

Talk to your cardio about alternating days. That's what I do.

I can think of a bunch of other combinations that can net you very close to an average of 7 mg per day working with 5 and 2.5's or just with multiples of 2's.

For example:
7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 5.0 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 5.0........
averages 7.0 over any 5 day period.

8-6-8-6-8-6-8-6-8-6........
averages 7.0 oever any 2-day period.

I still suspect that your dose will continue to change for a bit. You're pretty soon after surgery. But the alternating days can work for almost any dose. Just keep it simple so you don't confuse yourself.

Buy a gazillion 2 mg doses for now - it's the same co-pay.

 

[JetService]

Hey, that's a great idea! I still have a few 6mg tabs left. I could break a 2.5mg in half with the 6 and take 7.25mg tonight, then break a 6mg in half and take with a 2.5 and half a 2.5. (3+2.5+1.25=6.75) tomorrow. Then 7.25mg again Sunday and let them sort it out Monday. (I will call pharmacy first, though; they are still open). That would average just a smidge about 7.1 in three days.

 

[Ross]

My Bad on the INR levels for valves. See the correction in my post above.

 

[Guest]

I'm beginning to feel like the Maytag repair man and Exanta hasn't even come out yet.

 

[Ross]

I'm beginning to feel like the Maytag repair man and Exanta hasn't even come out yet.

Never AL. There is no way you can even compare yourself to the Maytag man. Besides, you know how many times I get things wrong around here. I need you to keep me in check.