Vertigo--Relationship to Warfarin?

[tomkinst]

Over four years ago, I had my aortic valve (BAV) replaced with a mechanical valve (St. Jude). About two years ago, I started getting light-headed spells. Some developed into vertigo with nausea, sweats, shortness of breath and near black out symptoms. The spells are short-lived. The results of these spells are often severe headaches, blurred vision and the inability to focus/think for up to 24 hours. Since then I have made numerous trips to the Mayo Clinic, cardiologists, neurologists, etc. The spells are getting more frequent and more severe. I now can blackout and have fallen a few times.

The best we have been able to determine is that I have torturous veins with migraines. I am undergoing treatment for that but nothing seems to help and the veins are inoperable.

Because of my mechanical valve and I am taking warfarin. I just heard that warfaring can cause dizziness, fainting and falls. However, I cannot seem to find much information about. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to look for data? Any directional information, similar or resolution information would be appreciated?

 

[Lily]

Hi Tom -

I'm very sorry to read about the vertigo issues; my dad passed out a lot when he was about your age from a heart issue called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and it was quite frightening. (Adding an edit - his spells of blacking out ended after he was given a pacemaker.)

I have very little experience with anticoagulation therapy (ACT) but am wondering if the moderator or adminstrator might need to move your thread over to the ACT forum where more members with ACT experience will see your question, rather than the bicuspid forum. If they don't, maybe you could try posting it again over there.

By the way, welcome to the site . There are several other members from this part of California.

I hope you find some answers and relief for your serious and worrisome issue.

 

[Nancy]

Has your doctor had you wear a Holter monitor for a month or an event recorder to check for abnormal heart rhythms?

My husband fainted several times, and finally got a pacemaker for periods of slow heartbeats. That took care of his fainting and dizzy spells.

 

[Eva]

I am not sure what is going on, but I hope your cardiologist/GP will be able to help you to relieve the symptoms you are going through.

To answer your question about warfarin and dizziness...NO, it does not cause me any dizziness or falls.

Here is a Mayo clinic website about side effects of Warfarin:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/warfarin-side-effects/HB00101


Good luck and keep us informed.

 

[Bill B]

I believe I can put the reference you found to symptoms of dizziness, fainting and falls among the adverse reactions associated with warfarin into the correct perspective. When companies conduct trials of drugs for approval to market by the FDA, they are required to record and report ALL adverse events that are observed no matter how uncommon. So, you will often see included in approved information for a drug a LAUNDRY LIST of adverse effects without any qualification about their frequency or any evaluation about whether they were actually related to the use of the drug at all. That doesn't mean they might not be real, but it goes into the category of observed but unsubstantiated, and there is unlikely to be any further information. However, significant bleeding certainly could be associated with dizziness, fainting and falls due to loss of blood volume. In the absence of bleeding, these side effects are unlikely to be caused by warfarin, although it is possible. These "laundry lists" of adverse effects cause a lot of confusion and fear. In pharmacy school, the first time I read a "package insert" (not intended to be read by anyone other than physicians or pharmacists) that was included with a drug, any drug, I was shocked and wondered why anyone would take something that had this many side effects.

As others have suggested, you should probably look for other more likely causes of your symptoms.

Bill Ball, Pharm.D.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Have you been evaluated by an Ear Specialist (Otolaryngologist)?

Inner Ear problems can also cause Vertigo, Nauseu, vomiting etc.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[tomkinst]

Vertigo Response

Vertigo Response

One of the first visits my primary care doctor had me make was to a neurologist who had my ears checked. The Mayo Clinic also gave me a complete review.

My cardiologist is convinced it is neurological and that is my current treatment plan. Taking me off Toporol seemed to reduced the number of spells but increased the risk of afib. (I had it often in a post-surgical period.) So far so good.

A nurse had told me that she had patients with dizzy spells and falling that they assumed were caused by warfarin. I thought I would check around--just seaching under every rock in my path. Although, I am not sure what we could do if we discovered it was the warfarin. There are not many alternatives.

Thanks all for your responses. I think I will try to get the question moved to a broader audience.

Tom

 

[Marty]

Have you been evaluated by an Ear Specialist (Otolaryngologist)?

Inner Ear problems can also cause Vertigo, Nauseu, vomiting etc.

'AL Capshaw'

I agree. An ENT should be consulted stat.