Tylenol & Advil

[Dee]

How do you know how much Tylenol and Advil affect your INR? If I were to take just 2 Tylenol or 2 Advil, would that really throw my INR off or not? Also, the same question for alcohol....if I were to have just one glass of wine with dinner, how much would that affect it?

Those of you that use CoaguChek, have you had problems getting your test strips in the past. I just got my home monitor a couple of weeks ago and they had to delay sending it because the tests strips were on backorder and I just called to reorder some more test strips and they're on backorder again. Wasn't sure if this is a new problem or one that has been going on for a while? I'm afraid I might run out by the time they can send me some new ones...then what do you do??

Thanks,
Dee

 

[catwoman]

Dee:

Take Tylenol or the generic. Those are OK, unless you take them around the clock, several days. That will probably raise your INR.
Check with your cardio or PCP about Advil. My PCP said only Tylenol.

On testing supplies:
You may have to go into your PCP or cardio's office for a test. See if they're running into problems, too, because of backorders.

I had to wait 2.5 weeks for clearance on insurance coverage for more ProTime 3 testing supplies. In the meantime, I purchased enough for 4 weeks out of my own pocket.Should get 6 months' supplies tomorrow.

 

[Marty]

Call the source

Call the source

I get my Coaguchek strips directly from Roche in Indianapolis. I always get them UPS in less than a week.Try this #
!-800-428-5076

 

[Guest]

Dee,

If you have trouble with CoaguChek strips, e-mail [email protected] (and tell him Al sent ya). He is the sales rep for Colorado. He recently helped another person on this site get some. The problem is not the strips, it is the controls.

If you take less than about 19 Extra Strength Tylenol tablets per week, you should not see much effect on the INR.

Advil is a different story. Ibuprofen (the generic name for Advil) will not affect the INR. What it does is erode the lining of your stomach to cause a GI bleed. Once this gets started the warfarin will keep the bleed going real well.

I have never seen anyone have a problem with two glasses of wine daily. Above that, you can start getting effects on the INR as well as the possibility of GI bleeding.

One of my students told me that they learned the GI bleeds are the 15th leading cause of death in the US, so this is not something to mess around with.

We hope you are going to be able to come to Denver Oct 15th for the valvereplacement.com reuinon. Contact Rain to get put on the list of planners. She lives in the Cortez area. I'm in Pueblo.

Please look at my website www.warfarinfo.com

 

[Dee]

Thank you guys for the info. I'll try those other options you gave me for the test strips.

Thanks Al for the info and letting me know about the reunion. I'll contact Rain about that. Another question for you, does Aleve fall into the same family as Advil? My orthopedic Dr. suggested that I take Aleve everyday for my back pain, but I wasn't sure if that would be a good idea or not. I haven't checked with my Cardio yet, but I will before I do take anything like that. You're always full of good information!! I really appreciate your help!

Dee

 

[Guest]

Alleve falls into the general class of drugs called Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS). This includes ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Alleve), indomethacin, Daypro and dozens of others.

However, the constitution does not say that, "All NSAIDS are created equal..." But many people think that they are all endowed buy their creator with certain inalienable problems among them causing GI bleeding.

But I cannot find where naproxen (Alleve) has ever had a bleeding episode reported in a medical journal going back to when it was first produced. Therefore, I think that is the safest NSAID for people on warfarin.

Again you can find a lot more on my website by looking up individual drugs.

 

[terry40]

Thanks

Thanks

Thanks for the info Al, I've taken an advil only a few times, but I'll try the aleve instead.

I do take more tylenol than I'd like, I have to keep track of how many in a week.

Thanks again for the reminder.

Terry40

 

[Guest]

Also remember that 4000 mg per day is the limit for acetaminophen. Above that you start to risk liver damage. The liver damage rapidly worsens with alcohol. 4000 mg is = to 8 extra strength. Also look at the ingredients labels for many non-prescription items, it is hidden in many products. It is in many prescription pain relievers also.

Doctors tend to forget how many things have this in it. I'll bet you could walk into any hospital with 100 or more patients and find at least one person who is being overdosed on acetaminophen every day.