Threw Up 2 hr after dose - What to do now?

ALCapshaw2 · Aug 6, 2006

I threw up 2 hours after my evening dose.

Now that my stomach is settled down,
what should I do?

Take a full dose this morning?
Take half a dose this morning?
Do nothing and take my usual dose this evening?

Bottom Line: How long does Coumadin remain in the stomach after injesting?

'AL Capshaw'

LUVMyBirman · Aug 6, 2006

Hi Al,

This happened to me once. Was really concerned. I decided to wait and take my regular dose the next evening. Tested in 2 days. INR was perfect! Stomach upset...generally you are apt to retain and not process Coumadin as usual..

Guest · Aug 6, 2006

You can't really judge how long warfarin remains in the stomach when you throw up two hours after a dose. One of the things that can happen before you throw up is that the stomach and intestine stop their normal movement. This would mean that almost nothing gets absorbed for several hours before the actual vomiting.

So there is no right answer as to what to do about the warfarin dose. Choose a course of action aqnd stick with it. These things almost always work out no matter what you do.

Karlynn · Aug 6, 2006

I would also add that it depends on the size of dose you take too. People who are taking lower doses of warfarin don't have their INR's drop as fast as those who take larger doses. I average around 10mg for a dose and my INR has a tendency to head to the cellar with a missed dose. I'd probably feel better by taking 5mg after my stomach wasn't upset anymore, and then follow along with my usual dosing.

As Al says, pick an answer and stick with it. The reality of it is that in less than a week any mess up from unabsorbed warfarin will be a non-issue.

ALCapshaw2 · Aug 6, 2006

Thanks AL, Gina, and Karlynn for your inputs.

I decided to take 1/2 my normal dose (normal dose =4mg). That way at worst, I would only be 50% high for the day if ALL of the evening dose was absorbed or 50% low for the day if none of the evening dose was absorbed.

My thinking is that is better than the possibility of being 100% low if nothing was absorbed or 100% high if everything was absorbed and I took a second full dose.

'AL Capshaw'