Question for Al Lodwick

[catwoman]

Al:

I was on 3 Rxes last week for severe bronchitis: 500mg amoxi and for coughing: promethazine (Phenergan VC w/ codeine) and benzonatate capsules.

I began experiencing a foul taste within 48 hours -- seemed like a bitter taste, with a coated tongue. I had run some fever.

I only took the syrup 2-3 times (at night) and the benzonatate 2 days. Stopped the amoxi on Saturday, thinking it was causing the horrible taste. I had taken 1,000mg Wednesday, 1,500 mg Thursday and ditto on Friday.

My INR was at 5.1 Sunday p.m. (had been 4.1 Thursday night) and was 5.5 Tuesday a.m., so I held my warfarin today. Will start back towards stabilizing my INR on Wednesday...

I know that antibiotics can increase INR, so can fever, change in diet, etc.

Could the promethazine or benzonatate have increased the INR too? Can't find anything on the internet as such, but I'd like to know just in case... for the future. My PCP is interested in knowing too. I had him check my shiner (left eye, from a coughing bout Sunday) on Monday, and he was very interested in any drug interactions that he may not be aware of. Even gave me his personal fax # for any findings.

Thanks for any info.

 

[Guest]

I don't know of any interactions for those drugs and warfarin. Just the fact that you are sick will raise the INR. I hardly ever see anyone go into the hospital with a "NORMAL" INR.

 

[catwoman]

Al:

Thanks for telling me what I suspected. It helps to have someone with credentials backing up my uneducated guess.

 

[Guest]

Anyone can make a WAG (wild --- guess)

When you have training in the field it becomes a SWAG (scientific wild --- guess.)