Newbie with questions

[Shari is Bionic]

Hi folks! I appreciate all the useful info here. I have some Warfarin questions. I have started exercising regularly at my cardiac rehab program, but it seems to be driving my INR down (1.8). I'm currently taking 10mg daily and am experiencing severe headaches. Could Warfarin cause this? Does it cause fatigue? Isn't 10mg rather a lot? I'd appreciate your comments.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Welcome aboard Shari !

I *assume* that you are still in the early phase of your post-surgery recovery.

Several members have reported that their INR tended to drop as they became more active following surgery. There has been some debate on the exact cause of this phenomonen but it is not uncommon.

Our former moderator and anti-coagulation guru was known for saying that "the right Warfarin dose is one that keeps your INR in your Target Range". (and Yes, 10 mg / day is probably on the high side of the distribution curve but you are not alone)

I've not heard of headaches being caused by Warfarin.

There can be several possible causes of fatigue. Fluid retention is often cited as a culprit. It would be best to discuss this with your Rehab Nurse(s), Cardiologist, and maybe even your Surgeon if you have not been released from his care.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Michellemar]

Shari, I agree with Al, he's been around pretty much and knows alot of his stuff.I think you need to bring up this positional stuff straight from someone
Who Speaks for the company, in it's own, unadulterated way... But then, I am NO candidatecfor thecstuffcso I'm pretty biased....Keep up the good
Work!

 

[Shari is Bionic]

Actually I'm 8 months post op...

 

[Bina]

Hi Shari, welcome to VR.
I don't think that the warfarin is causing headaches or fatigue,
and it may be a good idea to get some basic bloodwork and EKG done to rule out anything else.

Your dose of 10 mg is just fine, there is no "target" dose, only a "target" INR range. We all seem to process
warfarin differently, have different diets, etc. that will affect our doses.
At 8 months postop there is still some recovery left to deal with, patience is key

 

[Greg a]

Hi folks! I appreciate all the useful info here. I have some Warfarin questions. I have started exercising regularly at my cardiac rehab program, but it seems to be driving my INR down (1.8). I'm currently taking 10mg daily and am experiencing severe headaches. Could Warfarin cause this? Does it cause fatigue? Isn't 10mg rather a lot? I'd appreciate your comments.

HI SHARI AND WELCOME from another corner of the province

 

[Jason]

Hi Shari,

I think Al is correct, and can tell you that I am also on the higher side of dosing. I take 10mg five days a week and 7.5mg the other two days. As my dose rose I thought like you that I was too high, or at the least very high. Now I agree with everyone here that the dose isn't what is important, but rather the INR. I took over a month to get above an INR or 2, and had to be on lovenox shots for much of that. I was so happy when my INR got above 2 that I didn't care what the dose was. Since that time I have swung high when the amioderone was added, and then low when it was taken off. Now they started me on another medication that affects INR upwards, and I am just happy to be sufficiently anti-coagulated. I haven't had any headaches since the surgery, although fatigue is something I have had to deal with. I have a hard time sleeping since the surgery, and the metoprolol I am on also causes sluggishness, or fatigue. The headaches are worrisome, and I agree with Bina that I would have it checked out. Hope all is well with you, and enjoy the community!

 

[Shari is Bionic]

Thanks, Jason. I appreciate hearing that somebody else is taking this much warfarin. Yesterday they increased me again: am now taking 11.25 mg daily. I'll try to focus on my INR numbers instead my dosage...but, honestly, it does seem high

 

[dick0236]

Could Warfarin cause this? Does it cause fatigue? Isn't 10mg rather a lot? I'd appreciate your comments.

I doubt that warfarin will cause a headache. I have never known it to cause fatigue, but some other meds can, especially some BP meds. The amount of warfarin it takes goes along with age and activity. When I was young and very active I took 10mg/day for years. As I have gotten older, the dosage has reduced. I now take 5mg/day. As has been said...there is no magic number....it takes what it takes.

 

[Jkm7]

I have a tissue valve and my surgeon ordered coumadin for three months post op while I grew my own tissue over the seat of my new valve. I never reached therapeutic 2.0 level (surgeon wanted me 2.0 - 3.0) and when he told me to stop taking it, I was up to over 90 mg per week. My doctors all agreed if I had to continue coumadin, I would ultimately have been taking over 100 mg per week in order to stay in low level of my range. My surgeon told me to stop it at 2 1/2 months so I don't know for sure where I would have 'settled in'.

I understand what you mean when you say it makes you a little 'uncomfortable'.
I never had headaches from coumadin. I almost never get headaches from anything.