Coumadin and alcohol

[johnbart]

I know this may be a weird question but with the upcoming holiday seasons approaching and being a new user of Coumadin I am wondering just what are the effects of alcohol with Coumadin? I believe it raises your level but is there a real guage as to what one beer will do or two beers, etc. I have not had a drop since my surgery this past August but with all of the parties approaching I know I will be tempted and having been dying for a beer. Any advice/past experience will be appreciated.

John

 

[ccrawford]

Hi John - The whole issue with Coumadin is consistency. Consistency in what you eat and what you drink. The medical profession has realized that alcohol can be beneficial for most people (they fall short reccommending that teatotalers imbibe) but indicate that two drinks per day (meaning 3 oz of hard liquor, or two beers, or two glasses of wine) can create medical benifits. This doesn't mean you can save them up and use them all on Monday night while watching football - that's not consistent. It means a routine consumption with little variation. I've tried to do this and have found little problems in my INR management. I home test and home dose, but keep my Coumadin clinic advised of what I'm doing. Hope this helps. Chris

 

[EVELYN]

Hello John

Tyce has a glass of wine at night. We only used to have wine on weekends, but then would have 2 or 3 glasses. His cardio told him that consistency was the key and that he would rather he have a glass every night, rather than save it for the weekends. So we do!! Consistency is the key, so if you're planning on imbibing, have that beer or wine or liquor consistently, not all at once----and enjoy it.

Evelyn

 

[Georgia]

I seldom drank at all. My cardio told me that he recommended a glass of wine every night. I asked him if I needed to drink every day if I wanted to drink at all; he said "consistency." Meaning yes. So I have a drink every night (nearly always wine, but occasional cocktail or beer). When you start this it'll throw your inr a little higher, but since you're only 3 months out, you're adjusting your warfarin levels anyway. I think I was about 3 to 4 months post surgery when I started the wine therapy (as I like to look at it!!!).

This gives you some wiggle room during the holidays.

Prosit!

 

[Guest]

Just don't say, "Well I haven't had any beer all week so I can have 14 tonight"!!!

The real risk is that the alcohol will irritate the lining of the stomach. If this gets a bleed started, the warfarin will keep it going real well. There is no warning sign.

Another of my patients has a party for every Broncos game. On Tuesday she has rectal bleeding. Harley-Davidson thinks they have the greatest product loyalty because people will tattoo their logo on their butts, but I thinks this one is the winner.

 

[Ross]

Hairy Buffalos are out of the question?

I like Jack, but Jack don't like me, so it's off to Bacardi and the Bat Device.

 

[tommy]

Another pitch for consistency.
In real estate it's "location location location".
With Coumadin it's "consistency consistency consistency".

My cardio told me that if I like to have a 6-pack of beer every night to keep doing it, just do it every night. He was half-joking, but I got the message about consistency. I don't even like beer.

My limit is two per day and I seldom even do that. I try not to drink within 3 days of a test. I don't think that one or two evenings of two glasses of wine will put me out of range, but there's no point in skewing the test results. Maybe some day I'll test my self on back-to-back days with a dose of spirits in between.

 

[TSH]

I believe consistency is the key, and I have 1 or 2 drinks every night. However, I have to admit that I'm guilty of "binge drinking" and having 4 or 5 (or 6) at a party when I'm in the mood. It hasn't killed me yet, but I haven't seen an MRI of my liver either.

 

[Granbonny]

John

John

I started having a beer or 2..after around my 6 month VR... I don't drink alcohol..like bourbon, gin, volka, ect... My INR is always stable at the 3.0 range... I have had a Marguerita SP?.. before dinner at restaurants..But, they are so watered down..Maybe you can make your own Xmas drinks Cheers bonnie

 

[Granbonny]

Ross

Ross

I think a Hairy Buffalo..would be a great avatar for you.. Bon

 

[MarkU]

Two glasses of red wine with dinner most nights. Gave up beer after my AVR three years ago. Try to avoid binge drinking, but might have 3-4 glasses of wine over an evening when out with friends. My INR has been very consistent in the 3.0 to 3.5 range.
I worry more about overeating than drinking over the holidays - I'm starting my post-holiday diet now!

Mark

 

[carbomedic]

Hello,
I guess I have limited my alcohol usege due to "maturity" imstead of Coumadin. I still have 2 to 3 after softball or volleyball, and enjoy a brandy everynight, but I also violate the consistancy rule of coumadin alot, good times with friends and all...
My real concern is the effects it has my liver, seeing how both work there. I use a trick I learned here, V8 when I know I was a bad boy.
carbo