Can't keep INR/pro-time level up

[halleyg]

Just got back from the dr. - this is the third consecutive week getting checked because my pro-time level keeps dropping. It's gone from 2.39 three weeks ago to 2.1 today, even though each week my warafin's been increased. I expected it to drop some when my diet got back to normal, b/c I am mostly vegetarian except for fish about 2x a week and occasional dairy. I eat a lot of green veggies and soy... would this make my levels go down even as I increase dosage?

Also, I am taking 7 mg daily for the past week.

 

[geebee]

If you have increase the quantity of green vegies and soy, it can cause a decrease in the INR because they are high in vitamin K. In addition, if you are feeling better, you are probably more active which can also cause the need for more coumadin.

It will all stabilize - just keep testing every week until that time.

 

[Blanche]

Halley:
You are going to be just fine with the veg diet and the soy and whatever else you wish to consume. The trick is dosing the diet, not dieting the dose. You need to find the dose of Warfarin that will put your INR in range.
There is no one dose that fits all. We have people here who take as little as 2.0 and others who take as much as 23.0.

If your INR is low, the way to get an increase is increasing your dose.

Please don't let this worry you. There are many, many vegetarians who are on anticoagulation and doing well.

Regards,
Blanche

 

[Ross]

Halley did they increase the dose again and if so, what are you to take now?

 

[halleyg]

Now my dr. has me switching every other day: 7.0 and 7.5

 

[Ross]

I think that's too conservative. I would have upped you to 8.5mg daily or a combo of what it would take to get 60mg for the week.

 

[halleyg]

I kind of thought the same thing, I wasn't sure if I should call my dr. or just try that and see how it turns out next Friday (when I'm retesting).

 

[Ross]

Let them have one more crack, then let us have a crack. We are not physicians, only people that have been around the block with this drug, so we know pretty much the way it works.