Darvoset Termination During Regulation

[JetService]

Hello all. Hopefully some of you have been following the attempts to regulate my INR and how they've been low so far. Just to update you the latest chapter (then follow-up with a question); my dosage was increased from 5 mg/daily to 7 mg/daily. When I picked up the prescriptions, someone goofed and ordered 5mg & 2.5mg tabs. Since it was the weekend and my INR had been low, I went ahead with the 7.5/mg dosage. Well I was tested again yesterday, and my INR was higher, but still low. The clinitian was suprised about the 7.5mg dose and even moreso that I was still low (2.0). Her remedy was to take 10mg tonight, then continue with the 7.5 and be tested again next week. I'm happy that its at least in the 2s, but now here is my concern. Up until today, I was taken my full doses of Darvoset, which was two every 6 hours. I would even take a third at the 3 hour mark during my most sore times. I've refilled twice, but now I'm out. I want to attempt to do without them and continue with Tylonol, but now I concerned I'm going to throw another factor into the equation that will cause further delays in regulating. My question is, should I go ahead and get another refill and continue taking them until they get me regulated, then stop to see what happens, or go ahead and stop now? I am still very sore (especially when I sneeze YOUCH!!!), but I know I could live without them. What are your thoughts on this? Thanks!

Darren

 

[Guest]

I think that you should get off the Darvocet as soon as possible. But I would also push for about a 10% increase in your dose next time. You are usually safer with the INR a little too high than any amount too low.

 

[Granbonny]

Darren

Darren

You are a day or so over 1 month..post-op..You should not have to take Darvoset.. I never finished 1 bottle. Tylenol worked for me..for the sore shoulders, ect. And I believe that Tylenol never works against your INR. Never has bothered mine....Hang in there..your INR should be in range soon.. For the time being..I would not eat anything high in Vit K..the greens..maybe a small portion of lettuce, green beans..Bonnie

 

[JetService]

Thanks allodwick! Wow, that was quick! I must've caught you online. Much appreciated! I was really wanting to get off the pain-killers. I'm started to do a lot of work around the house and I've been feeling OK, but I'm worried that the Darvosets are masking pain so I won't know if I'm overdoing it. I finally did that dreaded toy-purge I've been wanted to do for years. It's funny how kids only play with 10% of their stuff, but have to throw the other 90% on the floor to get to it. i've been hauling crap from upstairs to the basement for two days (small loads of course). It's also comforting to know too high is the lesser of two evils. Seems I have a long way to go to be too high, but I just wanted to check with an expert. Thanks again!

D

 

[hensylee]

while getting off the Darvocet (don't you hate that stuff!) also get off the sneezes. Afraid you may have to live with them for a couple months - they are evil and you think you are just going to die every time you get one! Makes you think the truck is headed back in your direction.

 

[JetService]

Granbonny, you snuck your post in there while I was responded to the previous hee hee!! I appreciate your response. The Darvoset issue was also a concern for me, but obviously wasn't as critical that the Coumadin. To be honest, I kept getting mixed messages from the healthcare folks on that. I either heard that I should be off of it ASAP or that I shouldn't hesitate to use it because they didn't want anything compromising my recovery and which pain and discomfort might do. But I was assured by just about everyone, that it is not really that strong of a narcotic and there was very low risk of getting hooked on it. I have to admit, that whenever I felt any discomfort, I took it. I wanted to stay as active as possible, but as I said in my original post, I started to get worried that it was masking any messages my body was trying to give me, but on the other hand I didn't want to give the Coumadin Clinic another variable to contend with. But this is day 1 with out it, and the acetaminophin is doing just fine, so I'm glad the advice so far is to go ahead and ditch it.

henslyee, it just so happens I was also blessed with allergies that strikes every spring and fall. This will be a fun time for me! LOL. And I'm not sure if I read your post right, but are you saying stopping Darvoset may actually cause sneezing?

 

[Ross]

If this next test doesn't have you in range, educate them on the 10% solution and tell them that's what your going to do. Your arms gotta be hurtin from all the sticks. I'd of lost it already.

 

[Kathy]

I hate Darvoset and only took it one night after the hospital. I used Tylenol p.m. at night after that and Tylenol during the day. You might try a heating pad on your back and shoulders. That helped me a great deal.

 

[hensylee]

Darren - no, I was just saying I hate Darvoset - and I also hated the sneezes. They hurt sooooo bad. So I was saying don't do either of them.

As to Darvocet, it can cause addiction. We had a local lady lawyer who was arrested for snitching rx pads from local doctors to get Darvocet. I never knew it could be that addicting. As for me, I had it when they sent me home from last surgery (not heart) and the effects of it were awful so I quit.

 

[Guest]

As you improve, your INR should decrease causing a need for more warfarin. This is because exercise increases your heart rate causing the blood to make more trips through the liver. The metabolism reaction occurs instantly so sluggish trips through the liver do not metabolize more warfarin. All of the trips up and down the stairs will probably lower your INR more than any difference caused by stopping Darvocet or eating vegetables. That is why you need frequent monitoring when you are improving rapidly. (I had a letter to the editor of the American Journal of Cardiology published about this.)

As for Darvocet, most of us pharmacists do not think that it is a very good pain reliever, but a good drug at getting people addicted. During the time that I spent dispensing prescriptions, I know of more people who died from overdosing on Darvocet because they were addicted than any other medication that I dispensed. Three people. At one point the World Health Organization had a proposal to put in the same addicting category as morphine. They used to put it in a little bead back when it was sold in capsule form. People would take the beads out of the capsules and crush them and dissolve them in water and inject it IV.

 

[Marty]

Darvocet, Percocet, etc.

Darvocet, Percocet, etc.

My sister is a PhD psycho in Indiana sort of specializing in drugs, depression,addiction,suicide, OD's, etc.( a real happy type of practise!).
I got to like Percocet post op and for months took one every night
at bedtime. I asked her if I could get addicted to one pill a day, she didn't just say yes, she said hell yes! I stopped and darn if it wasn't a little difficult. So be careful of any pills with oxy in them.
Darvocet is less addictive about like codeine.

 

[Georgia]

So, Al - what would you recommend for an occasional good strong painkiller for those of us who can't take anything but tylenol. And frankly, tylenol just doesn't do the trick all the time, particularly for viral headaches or toothaches. When I went on my cruise I asked the doc for a decent painkiller in case I needed something for like toothache. He gave me darvocet.

Is this one that doesn't cause inr problems with occasional use? Are there others? Are the opiate-derivatives the only ones to use for powerful analgesics?

Oh, woe - how I miss advil . . .

 

[Birky]

Darvocet

Darvocet

I was given this after the surgery but I had a fracture in my sternum and this was sore until September when they took out the wires. They have now given me Darvocet for the headaches and this seemed to help. The only time I took the pain medicine was went I went to bed and that really helped. The Dr. told me it could take at least 3 mos. for the sternum soreness to go away after the wire removal. We had someone here in our office that was hooked on Vicoden. Lost her job because of it. Had knee surgery in 2001 and she stole the Vicoden out of my purse. Vicoden makes me nauseated. Was given this after wire removal and landed up cutting them in half for a few days that I needed them. I think the answer is that you should use it if you need it but don't abuse it. Sounds like you are doing really well so keep up the good work but don't overdo it.

 

[Guest]

Theoretically, Alleve (Naproxen) should be avoided because it is in the same family as ibuprofen (Motrin) but I can find no reports of anyone ever ever being harmed by a combination of it and warfarin. It works well for me for headaches etc. I would not recommend taking it daily but occasionally should be no problem.

Hydrocodone-acetaminophen is another that seems to work well with a a minimum of problems with warfarin.

 

[Georgia]

thanks, Al

thanks, Al

Really appreciate the suggestions. Will definitely lay in a small supply of aleve only for extraordinary headaches/whatever.

 

[catwoman]

Well, darn it! I was trying to quote Al, and somehow it went kaflooey!

From Al's post: <Hydrocodone-acetaminophen is another that seems to work well with a a minimum of problems with warfarin. >

Isn't that generic form of Vicodin (sp?)? My surgeon prescribed that and it didn't seem to affect my INR.

 

[Marty]

Percocet and Vicodin and Darvocet

Percocet and Vicodin and Darvocet

Percocet is 5 mg oxycodone and 325 mgm acetominophen.
Vicodin is 10 mgm hydrocodone and 650 mgm acetominophen.
Darvocet is 50 mgm propoxyphene napsylate and 325 acetominophen.

In my experience Darvocet is the least addictive, about like codeine. It can be very toxic in high doses. Percocet is the most addictive and easily subject to abuse. Oxy codone is oxycontin Rush Limbaugh's drug.Vicodin is also a regulated narcotic which should probably not be used for minor aches and pains.

 

[JetService]

Well I don't know what I'm going to do when I get my migraines. The only thing that works is Excederin Migraine and that's only if I take them just before the migraine hits (when I feel it coming). Tylenol never worked for those.

 

[bvdr]

Darren,

My surgeon prescribed Imitrex for me while I was still in the hospital. I had never used it before but it works great. I had migraines when I was younger and then went through a very quiet period for years when they were rare. Since surgery I have had more than I have had for many years but the Imitrex takes care of them right away.

 

[Birky]

migraines

migraines

Excedrin has a no aspirin product which seems to work. It is tylenol with caffeine according to the Pharmacist. Do you take Imitrex shots or pill form. I am going to see about this when I see the Cardiologist. Does it affect any other medications? I have been getting them since the surgery. Went through 17 years of none and then all of sudden they start again. Thanks,