In Range! And a Question

[Marge]

My second test since I started warfarin this time round was Tuesday May I7. I am now in range -- 2.3. (They want me between 2.0 and 3.0.) So I am supposed to continue taking the same dosage (5mg every day except Tuesday when I take 7.5 mg), and to go back for another blood draw until June 7. That's three whole weeks!

I'm very happy to be in range, and also happy not to have to go back to the lab for a while, but I have a question: I pulled a shoulder muscle early Tuesday. VERY painful .... so I took some Vicodin ... three tabs between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday a.m. The pain has receded so I probably won't need to take any more. Obviously, since I didn't take it until after the blood draw Tuesday morning, it won't have been reflected in the results from that test.

My question is, given the Vicodin (which is not something I take on a regular basis, obviously), should I ask to go back before June 7, in case it affected the INR?

 

[jeffp]

My second test since I started warfarin this time round was Tuesday May I7. I am now in range -- 2.3. (They want me between 2.0 and 3.0.) So I am not supposed to continue taking the same dosage (5mg every day except Tuesday when I take 7.5 mg), and to go back for another blood draw until June 7.

If you're in range, I would think that your should continue taking the coumadin as you had been (or at least very close to that level). I'm guessing that the NOT should not have been there. The Vicodin has a small effect on INR for most people (from the listed interactions) and short term should not really affect it to any really measurable degree.

 

[Marge]

If you're in range, I would think that your should continue taking the coumadin as you had been (or at least very close to that level). I'm guessing that the NOT should not have been there. The Vicodin has a small effect on INR for most people (from the listed interactions) and short term should not really affect it to any really measurable degree.

OOOPS .... yes dunno how that got in there. I am supposed to be taking the SAME dosage. (Thanks for catchhing that. Went back & edited the post.)

My feeling about the Vicodin was that, averaged out over the three weeks before the next scheduled test, it shouldn't affect the INR. It's just that I feel nervous, probably, having so long between tests so soon after starting! I didn't want to be on coumadin to begin with, but now that I am I want to do everything just right. I am probably being a bit obsessive about it.

 

[Karlynn]

I wouldn't, unless you find that you need to take more pain meds.

 

[Guest]

There are very few drugs that 3 doses would cause any effect on the INR. The part of the Vicodan that would be troublesome is the acetaminophen (Tylenol). You need to take about 19 over 7 days or less for there to be much effect.