Typical loading dose?

[catwoman]

Probably for Al Lodwick, although others may have answers from medical journals too:

What is the typical loading dose for starting a new mechanical valve patient on warfarin? What are factors used in determining the initial dosage?

Just curious.

 

[LUVMyBirman]

The standard protocol is 5mg. To the best of my knowledge that is

 

[Ross]

I think the loading dose thing is unpractical. I know they did that to me and started me with 10mg, but due to the slow metabolization of the drug, what would be the point? Seems to me, it just makes getting a standard dosing harder to figure out.

 

[Marty]

Probably for Al Lodwick, although others may have answers from medical journals too:

What is the typical loading dose for starting a new mechanical valve patient on warfarin? What are factors used in determining the initial dosage?

Just curious.

No "loading" dose anymore.Young folks usually started at 5 mg. Be careful with older folks and start with 3 mg.

 

[Cooker]

I started with 5mg and have been at 5mg/2.5mg sinse.

 

[Guest]

I saw a 22 year old woman today who was started on 10 mg yesterday. After one dose her INR was 2.2. Not a cause for rejoicing. She is not in range, she is in danger.

 

[catwoman]

Al:
Was the woman a med-surg patient or outpatient?

 

[Guest]

DVT a few days after giving birth.

 

[catwoman]

Sorry to hear about that.
A friend in California had a DVT maybe 6-7 years ago. Was on warfarin for a while.
About 18 months ago following a flight from CA to North Carolina, she had another DVT -- plus a PE, was hospitalized maybe 4 days. Is staying on warfarin now.
I don't know what her initial dosage was this last time.

I was curious about loading dosages, whether there is any prescribing guidelines based on age, weight, usual activities.
Seems like I left the hospital on 2.0-2.5 mg daily.

 

[Blanche]

Marsha:
I just began Coumadin for a-fib in June. I started at 5.0 and am now taking 6.0. Been in range since I increased the dose to 6.0. I don't believe weight is a factor in anticoagulation. http://www.coumadin.com/coumadin/channels/hcpcontent.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&channelId=-11601
Regards,
Blanche