Is on the low side okay?

[Robbyn]

I am doing really well on my Coumadin levels now. I still go twice a week for blood tests though. My INR is usually at 2.9. Surprisingly enough I seem to able to eat or drink what I want and it doesn't really seem to effect it. My question today. The lowest I have been in the last 3 weeks is 2.6. Do some people run on the low side all the time and have to do things to consistently make it go higher, as I haven't been over 2.9 so far. They really did want it between 3.0 and 3.5. But my GP says it's okay at 2.9. Thanks for your time. Robbyn

 

[Georgia]

Kinda low for mitral valve. I prefer to be higher (have had trouble staying above 3.1 lately, although that's in range) - my doc wants between 3 and 4 for mitral valve. That being said, that .1 probably doesn't mean diddly (ask Al). And if you're really stable at 2.9, it's probably better that you stay put than getting your inr flying all over by changing your dosage.

 

[Guest]

If I had somneone whose INR was 0.1 units below the range and had never gotten to the range, I would take the equivalent of one day's dose, divide it in half and give half on Monday and Friday. This will almost always put the INR in range.