Grrrrrrrrrrrr ... Antibiotics

[Cooker]

I was 2.7 before starting Levaquin 500mg ... the day after the first dose I was 4.0 ... they cut me back from 5mg/day to 2.5mg and three days later I'm at 1.8 ... they wanted me to fill a script for 4mg ... bite me ... I'm going back to 5mg and let it even out ... As Al told me one time, "INR stands for it's never right" ... I'll take high over low any day ....

 

[AgilityDog]

Sweetie, 5 x 7 = 35/week. You could drop to 2.5 a couple days a week to reduce INR (say, to 32.5 or to 30/week), but halving your 35 mg/week dose is just overkill! Even 4 x 7 = 28 is probably too low.
Especially as you're not likely to be on the antibiotics more than 10 days.

 

[Protimenow]

I agree. You shouldn't have to go with 4s -- however, when you DO go back to 5 after the effects of the antibiotic are done - you can still get to 5 by taking a 4 on one day and a 4 and a half of another 4 the next and still easily get to 10 each two days. With 4s, you may be able to more easily go to 6 until your INR is stable again, and go back to 5s.

With 5s plus 4s that you can split in half if necessary, you can easily get doses of 2, 2.5, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7.5, 8 - not that you'll ever need all those different doses - but having 4s gives you the ability to make more small changes if your INR is above or below range. Plus, your clinic will believe that you're actually listening to them and following their (probably flawed) recommendations.

 

[Bina]

I was 2.7 before starting Levaquin 500mg ... the day after the first dose I was 4.0 ... they cut me back from 5mg/day to 2.5mg and three days later I'm at 1.8 ... they wanted me to fill a script for 4mg ... bite me ... I'm going back to 5mg and let it even out ... As Al told me one time, "INR stands for it's never right" ... I'll take high over low any day ....

Aww Cookie, I'm sorry to hear that you are having to deal with this. Good thing that your INR was checked
3 days later.....As you can see, halving a dose can cause a fast drop in INR.
I agree with your "Bite Me" sentiment. Stay on your dose and enjoy alot more greens until the antibs are done.
It will work out. ((hugs))

 

[Duffey]

I will come down there and supervise your medication . . . for a price.:biggrin2:

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Since you are already on (i.e. have) 5 mg tablets, you could alternate a full pill (5mg) with 1/2 pill (2.5 mg) for an average of 3.75 mg which is pretty close to the recommended 4 mg dose.

I like having 2 doses, 1mg apart, which allows making weekly adjustments in 1 mg steps.
For Example

4 mg/day = 28/week
4.4.4.5.4.4.4 = 29/week
4.5.4.4.4.5.4 = 30/week
4.5.4.5.4.5.4 = 31/week
etc.
5mg/day = 35/week

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Bina]

I will come down there and supervise your medication . . . for a price.:biggrin2:

<smirk> me thinks that the chimp is not up to any monkey business....

 

[Cooker]

<smirk> me thinks that the chimp is not up to any monkey business....

TheChimp is ALWAYS up to monkey business:biggrin2::wink2:

 

[Cooker]

Thanks everyone ... I'm going back to 5mg and stay there ... one more doctor to label me non-compliant:thumbup:

 

[Freddie]

TheChimp is ALWAYS up to monkey business:biggrin2::wink2:

auh, the Chimp ain't that sick. He beat me to the punch.

Al and Bina have very good suggestions, but if you don't like that have a V8 and rest

Sending warm ((((hugs))))) your way Mr. Chimp