Cortisone injection while on Coumadin?

[The mail man]

Hello all. I have an appointment with our family Doctor in a couple of weeks to see about some relief from pain in my right knee. With the colder weather kicking in its really bugging me. I know that cortisone injections are commonly given for joint pain and inflammation but I've read that it can have an affect on inr. Just wondering what I can expect to come of this or if anyone has experienced something similar and what the outcome was. I had my aortic valve replaced in April of this year and am taking Coumadin.

 

[Freddie]

WARFARIN SODIUM (in Warfarin Tablets) may interact with CORTISONE ACETATE (in Cortisone)

Warfarin is generally used to prevent your blood from "coagulating" or forming blood clots. Although the cause of this potential interaction is not clearly understood, cortisone may alter the anticoagulant effect of warfarin. Based on information from one study and two case reports, cortisone may increase the anticoagulant effect of warfarin in some people and decrease its anticoagulant effect in others. This unpredictable outcome appears to be related to the individual and may also be influenced by when doses of cortisone and warfarin are taken. If these drugs are used at the same time, your doctor may want to monitor you closely when therapy with cortisone is either started or stopped. Blood tests can be used to make sure that you are getting the right amount of warfarin. If you are experiencing problems, it may be necessary to adjust the dose of warfarin.Discuss this potential interaction with your healthcare provider at your next appointment, or sooner if you think you are having problems.

This interaction is poorly documented and is considered moderate in severity.

 

[ski girl]

The cortisone is very localized though, it's not floating around your bloodstream interacting with anything. Do a Google search, and ask your doctor, but I read about this issue a while ago and if I remember correctly there was no interaction. Good luck!

 

[dwhist]

I had cortisone shot last Tuesday morning in shoulder and did home testing for INR on Wed afternoon and was right at same number as the last few weeks. So, no effect for me.