My Turn with INR

[Freddie]

Okay, so we know that my doc is well........lets not go there.

Take it for whats its worth okay;
4 weeks ago I was taking 6mg for a daily dose, I've been taking 6mg for almost 1 full year. Then..................
3 weeks ago INR was 4.2, to high so I reduced.
last weeks reading was 3.6, too high for her liking (yea, I know, I know), so for the past week I've been alternating 4 and 5mg for the past 7 days.

Today's test came back as 2.1. So I took 5mg for today and planning to continue 5mg for the rest of the week.

My question is: should I take 6mg for today, then go back to 5mg? OR alternate 5 and 6mg and test again next week?

 

[Ross]

Stay on the dose and plan when you got the 3.6. I'm ready to come smack your doctor silly.

 

[dick0236]

My question is: should I take 6mg for today, then go back to 5mg?

I'd go with the above and check in a week. If you have been in range, or a little on the high side, for a year on 6mg, alternating 4s and 5s probably was "over kill". I would have cut 1/2 dose(3mg) for a day or two with a 4.2. When you went from 42mg(7days @6mg) to 32mg(alternating 4mg and 5mg), that's a 25% reduction.....and almost certain to drive your INR down a "bunch".

 

[Ross]

freddie give that clueless wonder this link and see if she even knows how to operate a calculator:

http://www.pace-med-apps.com/CoumCalc.htm

 

[Bina]

Freddie we told you not to do what she said.....!!!!!
She might be your doctor, but she obviously failed high school math.

 

[CThrock]

Freddie, hope you get you INR straighten out soon.. Good Luck.

 

[Freddie]

Stay on the dose and plan when you got the 3.6. I'm ready to come smack your doctor silly.

Thanks everyone.
June 4 - 4.3 on 6mg - reduced 1st night to 3mg, then started on 5mg
June 11 - 3.7 on 5mg - continued with 5mg for another week.....which was,
June 18 - 3.6
Doc really felt that this was still too high and almost flipped when I suggested that I was planning on continuing with the 5mg. That's why the two of us came to terms to alternate 4mg & 5mg for 1 week.

So, I took my 5mg last night; should I give myself a boost and take 6 tonight then start on a regular dose of 5mg? Of course I'll have to test again next Thursday grrrrrrrrrrr, I really don't have time for this BS!

Thanks again gang. I might be able to reply late tonight

 

[Bina]

You are probably going to be fine on 5mg daily.
Doc Lady didn't give it a chance after only a few days.....and now that she messed with your dosing, she got you swinging down.

 

[Freddie]

Thanks Bina for the positive input. But that all the above re-testing was done every 7 days. I thought that was the norm for re-testing.

 

[Bina]

Yes, re-testing is great after 7 days, but keep in mind that if you are taking alternating doses for a week, that the doses on day 6 and day 7 won't have taken full effect on testing day.
That's what happened with your test of 3.6 and she dropped you down to 4mg and 5mg instead of waiting another week.

 

[Freddie]

For the 3.6 reading - I was on 5mg for 2 weeks

 

[Bina]

Hmmmm. You had taken a half dose (3mg) and then 6 days of 5mg, then another 7 days of 5mg.
But the fact is that now your INR has taken a dive.....Big dive.
Don't go any lower than the 5mg.
*are you eating spinach in your sleep*

 

[Freddie]

Yep, a big dive from alternating 4mg & 5mg. 7 days doing this starting with the 4mg - I was able to change the dosage on testing day cause the doc phoned me as soon as she got the results.

That's why I was thinking I should give myself a boost of 6mg for one day?

 

[Bina]

I understand you are nervous being at 2.1 this is where a home tester would be your best friend.
You could check it again today to verify if it is indeed going up.
Taking 6 mg today, and continuing on 5mg would be putting you at 36 mg week which was too much.
If you took 5 yesterday, 6 today, then 5, then 4, 5, 5, 5....that makes 35 mg.

 

[westie]

chic shot

chic shot

.
hey ross

is this your subtle way of letting us know that you also have a hottie stashed away in argentina?

westie

 

[Freddie]

Going with 5mg for this week and test next Thursday (if I have time)

 

[Ross]

.
hey ross

is this your subtle way of letting us know that you also have a hottie stashed away in argentina?

westie

Nah. I do have dreams though. Can't seem to get the women of VR to loosen up a bit, so I have to make due with what I can find.

 

[Bina]

Going with 5mg for this week and test next Thursday (if I have time)

Make time.

 

[Freddie]

Yes Mom
But I bet you I won't be any higher than 2.5 - just an educated guess on my part

 

[Bina]

bumping for Freddie