How much Coumadin do you take?

[Karlynn]

After reading many posts, it sure seems like I am on a lot more Coumadin for a lesser INR than most people on the list.

Before my INR sunk to 1.5 because of vit. K in a new protein bar I was eating, I was taking 8-4 days/week and 9-3 days/week to maintain an INR of around 2.5 -2.8. Now that INR also seems low compared to some on the forum. But my cardiologist seems happy with it and I've been targeting those numbers for 12 years. But it sure seems like I'm taking a lot of Coumadin to maintain those numbers. And my cardiologist thinks so too. I think she's secretly thinking that I'm just continually dosing myself with Vit. K rich foods and drinking wine like a fish. But neither is the case. I really am very careful. (Except for that nasty protein bar incident, and that was just stupidity at not checking the nutritional chart on the box)

My bro-in-law takes 5/day and maintains an INR of 3 - 3.5 (He is a stroke patient).

I do recall in my fuzzy memory of having the clot test done before my MV replacement. The nurse said "Boy you clot good". So apparently the one thing I do well, that I shouldn't do well, is clot. I guess everyone has to have a talent for something.

So what are your #'s

Karlynn

 

[Les]

Hi Karlynn,
I have been on Coumadin for ten years since my first AVR in '93. For most of that time, I am taking 7.5 / day and maintain 2.5 to 2.8, testing just once per month. The only times I have been "out of range" which has not been out of range for a mechanical valve, just for me individually, is when they tried to adjust dosages all over the place on a daily basis. Too confusing and you start to obsess about it...don't want to go there. I think a lot of us "Users" mistake what are normal ranges for the valve types they have with what is the average for them individually. Step outside the box just 1/10th and the anxiety hits the ceiling.
_______________
Les AVR '93 / '95

 

[Ross]

Every one of us are different in our metabolizing of Coumadin. What may be right for one, may not even be close for another. Al's seen some that are as high as 20mg a day and that's the right dose for that person.

Myself, 7.5mg 5 days a week and 5mg 2 days a week to keep me at around 3.0.

 

[fyrfytr]

Hi Karlynn,
Like Ross said, what might be right for one person might not even be close for another. I am on 7.5mg 4 days and 5mg 3 days a week to be around 3.0. I just started testing once a month and today was my test day so I will see how it has been doing for a month.
Take Care

Dave
_______________________________
Surgery: 4/21/03
Aortic Aneurysm Repair
AVR, with a St. Jude Mechanical
Heart Center of the Rockies

 

[ccrawford]

Hi Karlynn - I was taking 7.5 per day when i took Centrum Silver vitamins (with vit K). I switched to a different vitamin and now take 5mg/day which usually keeps me on the high side of the range. (2.5-3.5) When I'm working outside in the heat like today, my INR usually climbs outside the range and I'll have to skip a dose to lower it. I've been working on the woodpile, and my INR tested 4.4 today. Good day for a big spinach salad !! Chris

 

[Blanche]

Karylnn
Al currently takes 6.25 daily and has for about three months. His range (3.0-4.0) is higher than most people because of a stroke. Over the last 13 years he has taken as much as 12.0 and as little as 5.0. As others have said, each person has individual requirements that can vary for many reasons. The right/best dose is the one that works for you. We do have a member on this board who was taking around 20.0 at one time.
Regards,
Blanche

 

[Karlynn]

Thank you to all. I am very reassured. I just got a little alarmed that my cardiologist was thinking I was having to take too much to maintain a theraputic level.

Karlynn

 

[Gisele]

Hi Karylynn

Hi Karylynn

20 years ago I was maintained on approx. 5 mg daily. Over the past few years that didn't seem to be enough to maintain my range of 2.5 to 3.5 and my dose varied, but was approx. 7mg to 8mg daily, with a bit of Lovenox here and there.

Right now I am on nothing due to a few subdurals and a stroke. I have to wait until Oct and a clean CT scan of my head before and if I resume my coumadin and that will only be temporary until I can have my mechanical mitral valve replaced with a tissue valve.

Good luck trying to stay stable. I was never able to do it and it drove me nuts. Just watch it closely.

Gisele

 

[EVELYN]

Hi Karylynn

Tyce is on 5 mg daily and 2.5 one day a week.....he has been all over with his INR since April--from a high of 8 to a low of 1.9. This week it was finally 3.3 on our Protime and 4.0 at the cardio's office on his coaguchek. I believe our protime first, so we were pretty pleased. They want to see him in 2 weeks, but we will check next week with our machine......the beauty of home testing.

As Al Lodwick says, it's not the quantity taken that counts, just keeping it in range.....or something like that.

Welcome.

Evelyn

 

[McCln]

Hi karlynn!

Hi karlynn!

Welcome to the board. I take 5/mon, wed, fri and 3/tues, thur, sat, and sun. My INR flunuates between 2.5 and 3.5. I never know from one month to the next till the visit to the blood bank, what I might find out. I try to be consistant in my diet, careful on the vitamin k and soy products. You are doign quite well. Keep up the good work.

Caroline
09-13-01
Aortic valve replacement
St. Jude's valve

 

[Sunshine susan]

Hi! I currently take 6 mg 4 days and 8 mg 3 days to stay in the 2.5-3.5 range, and I like mine to be on the higher side. I don't really pay that much attention to what I eat or drink and just adjust the coumadin for any changes which usually are few. Stress, heat, exercise, etc. can all affect the INR and I just don't stress over it, but am also fortunate that I don't have much problem with my range and haven't for the 4-1/2 years I have been taking the "gol-darned" stuff! Good luck! Susan

 

[Phil]

Boy! you guy's are all "lightweights"... I take 12-13 mg a day to maintain a 3.0 or so INR.

 

[Christina]

Phil, I beat ya....

Phil, I beat ya....

Phil, I beat ya on this one. Right now I am taking 22mg a day to stay within the 3.5 range. Last Tuesday my INR was 3.4. My lowest has been 1.9 last June. That was with taking 20mg a day. That same week I went up to 22mg, and that's how it's been ever since.
I don't go by quantity but by what the INR numbers say each week. I eat what I want but very healthy. I exercise most days, and keep very busy.
It's bloody hot here and that also has a lot to do with INR fluctuation. Monsoon weather most days and I don't thrive in 80% humidity. It'll dry up soon though and weather will be perfect as usual. Just have to get through the dog days of summer in AZ.

Take care.

 

[Phil]

Christina, YOU ARE THE TOUGHEST OF THEM ALL!!

Phil

 

[MarkU]

I take 5.0 mg / day, seven days a week, along with my daily Centrum Silver which keeps my INR pretty close to 3.0 all the time. I make a concerted effort to keep my diet consistent. However, I also average 5-6 glasses of red wine per week, usually consumed between Friday at 5PM and Sunday evening.

Mark

 

[Rain]

24.5 a week compared to Christina?s 22 per day!

24.5 a week compared to Christina?s 22 per day!

Hey Karlynn,

I heard or read somewhere that the opposite is true... the more you have to take the healthier you are.... Well, the better your liver is functioning anyway.

Christina is the toughest of them all! I must be the biggest lightweight.. I stay around 3.0 taking 3 ½ mgs. daily.

I live on rabbit food, (don't like meat) take Centrum vitamins with 25mcg of K in them(31% DV), have a few drinks a week, and probably a lot of other things I shouldn't be doing........... However, I do try to do it all very consistently.

I am going to find vitamins with less/no K in them after I finish the bottle I have........ I sure hope that don't put me back on my INR rollercoaster.

 

[Karlynn]

So now the question is: Who is the Queen and King of valve replacements? Is it the one who takes the least Coumadin, or the one who takes the most?

I hadn't heard that about the liver. Sounds good to me! I know all my blood work keeps coming back good, so apparently whatever amount of Coumadin I take doesn't seem to be a problem for my system.

Karlynn

 

[LUVMyBirman]

I take 45.5 mg per week. My liver function was badly compromised during my post surgical tamponade. Doctors thought it was going to be permanent. Thankfully, all results have been normal.

Seems I am a fast metabolizer of the Coumadin....and at that I am sure it has nothing to do with my "Metabolism" Has slowed down a great deal in the past few years.

Would like to hear more about what you read Rain, gaging your health on how much Coumadin you take. Maybe AL could help us out here.

 

[bvdr]

I do think Rain is right. I sorta remember Al saying that the higher dosage does reflect a liver than metabolizes coumadin rapidly. I think he also said that people who take higher doses will also, when discontinuing coumadin for whatever reason, have a more rapid fall in INR. But remember I am still a little pump-headed here. I take 4 mg. per day.

 

[Zipper]

I take 35-37 mg per week to keep my INR close to 3.0. I alternate iceberg and romaine lettuce and other greens to try to stay consistant. I also make sure I drink one bottle of wine each week...lol..gotta be consistant u-no!!!

When I go over 3.0 (thankful for home testing once a week) I indulge in extra coleslaw or caesar salad..if lower skip salad and have an extra glass of wine that day..heehee. Works for me..LOL!

Zipper