INR history over the last 21 months

[Buzz Lanning]

Hi everyone,
It?s been awhile since I?ve posted a thread on this website (sorry). I?ve been very busy with work, etc. in the last few months.

Anyway, I decided to post my INR history after taking Warafin for the past 21 months (see attachment). In summary, my INR has stayed between the required range of 2.0 - 3.0 (aortic position) in 24 of 27 tests. On the average, my INR changes approximately 13% (0.3) between tests. I?ve never had my INR repeat in back-to-back tests, but the readings have been very close on several occasions. My dosage has been changed only twice in the last 16 months, with each change being only 2.5 mg per week.

I?m thankful I've had no complications from Warafin, with no noticeable changes in bruising or bleeding (as compared to before I took anticoagulants).

Since INR fluctuations, stability, complications, etc. are consistent topics on this website, I thought this posting would be helpful to others who are managing their anticoagulation therapy.

If you have further questions, just send me a note.
Wishing everyone well . . .

 

[Guest]

This is how it is supposed to be.

Getting the same INR 3 times in a row happens about as often as it does on a slot machine.

 

[Ross]

I wish I were batting that kind of average. Only about 78 to 80% of my tests are in range. Well at least on the last 12 months, haven't looked at the newest to determine it yet.

 

[RandyL]

Very Good! I notice that sometimes you test every other month. I am still testing once a week to try and get my INR to stabolize. I guess once you got it under control you can go 2 months without testing or did you just forget to put it on the chart?

BTW Did you make that chart up or is it from Doctor or Lab?

 

[Buzz Lanning]

Testing Interval

Testing Interval

Randy,

That's all my INR data. The time-scale might be a little difficult to read since its getting compressed. The longest I've gone between tests is 5 weeks, not two months. I think 6 weeks is the longest you can (or should) go while on Warafin, regardless of your stability. However, I'll defer to Al on maximum testing intervals.

Good luck with your INR!

 

[Guest]

I have never seen anything that shows that having the INR in range for greater than about 55% of the time actually means better outcomes. Obviously it is good to have 80% in-range but the risk of anything bad happening with an INR that is out of range by a moderate amount for a few weeks is small.

I routinely have people who are stable go six weeks between visits. In the UK, I think that 2 months is pretty routine.

This is why I do not advocate testing every week, I don't think it results in better outcomes.

 

[ClickerTicker]

Buzz - wow, you look amazingly stable...
I've also kept a record of my INR over the last couple of years - oops
My therapeutic range is 3.0 to 4.0. My INR tends to suddenly spike high for no obvious reason. A couple at 7.3 and 7.1 were the worst. Luckily it seems to come down as fast as it goes up, holding for just one day seemed to slam it back into the 4-5 range.
I guess we're all built differently and this rat poison is a capricious bed-fellow!