Warfarin app

[Phil]

Hi All,

I'm new to warfarin and am wondering if there is an app people can recommend so I can electronically record my INR levels and warfarin doses.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Cheers.


Phil.

 

[pellicle]

why not a spreadsheet on google docs or dropbox?

 

[Protimenow]

When I started testing, I created a simple Excel spreadsheet (of course, this assumes that you've got a spreadsheet app). Pellicle's suggestion of a spreadsheet in google docs is a good one, if you don't already have a spreadsheet app. (You can also download OpenOffice, which is free, and has a pretty nice spreadsheet).

 

[chaconne]

Phil

It seems there are 3-4 Warfarin dosing related apps I can download for free on my iPhone. I haven't triend any of them. It might be just as good to use a spreadsheet or surf the web for dosing info.

 

[dick0236]

I created a simple spreadsheet(microsoft Excel) with colums for: date, INR, dose, comments. I highly reccomend keeping a personal record to show trends and potential effects of foods, medicines, supplements, etc. A spreadsheet will help identify any trends or "outsidse" effects.......and it "impresses" my PCP.

 

[yotphix]

Phil, if you do try out any apps, please post your experiences with them. I've only ever recorded in a little leather day planner, which is a sort of ritual for me. Take the pills, write the dose and time, what I ate that day, what exercise I took, and any important life events (travels, family visits, birthdays, that sort of thing.) It encourages me to treat the whole thing (especially the pill taking) as an important part of my day, and it really stands out to me if I forget.
I am kind of interested though, in an app as an addition to the routine.

 

[Protimenow]

As **** noted, the fact that you're keeping a record of your INRs and dosing is impressive to the doctors. It's also a useful history and can help convince a new doctor that you know what you're doing and you can be trusted to run your own tests and manage your dosing. It's definitely important, once in a while, to make sure that your meter is reliable (by reliable, I mean that it gives results that are close to those from a blood draw, or that it is CONSISTENTLY a certain amount higher or lower than the lab's results).

 

[DanielB]

As others have posted, I too keep a spreadsheet with the basic info -- test date, results, dosing changes (if any) and notes that I think may be relevant at the time. Though I have been home testing only about a year, it has been helpful already in showing me where I have been at different times and useful as a guide to new doses as time goes on and as repeated situations arise (like having to take an antibiotic). I have not used any apps, though I have referred to the dosing algorithms (links found on this site), but, as time has gone by, I tend to know what I need to do to get in range.

 

[Phil]

As others have posted, I too keep a spreadsheet with the basic info -- test date, results, dosing changes (if any) and notes that I think may be relevant at the time. Though I have been home testing only about a year, it has been helpful already in showing me where I have been at different times and useful as a guide to new doses as time goes on and as repeated situations arise (like having to take an antibiotic). I have not used any apps, though I have referred to the dosing algorithms (links found on this site), but, as time has gone by, I tend to know what I need to do to get in range.

Thanks for all the responses. I have started a spreadsheet (goggle) and am populating this each time I get blood results. Like others have mentioned I think it is important to document to look for any trends and to demonstrate I can competently manage my warfarin intake.

Again thanks.


Phil.

 

[gerrychuck]

I downloaded two iPod/iPad/iPhone apps today; OATbook and Warfarin Tracker. After fooling around with both a bit, I ended up entering all my historical data back to the beginning of the year into Warfarin Tracker. It was stupidly easy to figure out and use, and I now have a lovely little graph which shows dosage on one line over INR displayed relative to target range. The reports are for the past week, year to date, and all entries to date. Spent $2.99 and maybe 30 minutes loading date and I'm in business. Looks like a great little app.

 

[Amy]

I created a simple spreadsheet (microsoft Excel) with colums for: date, INR, dose, comments.

Would anyone please post this kind of spreadsheet, so I can get an idea of how it looks? I’ve seen one or two on this site, but not with any comments, & am curious how I could set it up. I’m not as excel-savvy as I could be...

 

[Meanjellybean]

Hi,
I created this a week or so ago.
It needs to be reviewed by yourself if suitable. But you could use, add on to it and make your own if you like.

Inr Chart - example

 

[Amy]

Thank you, meanjellybean.

What is ‘3 per mov average’?

 

[Meanjellybean]

3 day moving average - help you see the trend line of your INR. So you can make more moderate changes to your warfarin based on your moving average instead of wild swings in each direction

 

[Unicusp]

3 day moving average - help you see the trend line of your INR. So you can make more moderate changes to your warfarin based on your moving average instead of wild swings in each direction

Wouldn't you need to test daily for the data to be meaningful?

 

[Meanjellybean]

Wouldn't you need to test daily for the data to be meaningful?

Yes that would be best. Up to you and your testing regime and how stable your levels are.
It is a guide and more than anything.

 

[Unicusp]

Yes that would be best. Up to you and your testing regime and how stable your levels are.
It is a guide and more than anything.

Thanks and nice spreadsheet!

 

[pellicle]

Wouldn't you need to test daily for the data to be meaningful?

No, why?
One does need to make tests regular though, it's mainly a logical thing related to statistics and distributions. 52 daily readings aren't the same as 52 weekly ones for a variety of reasons.

 

[Amy]

Hm.. I don’t get it. Who can afford to test every day? Is that for use by weekly testers? Don’t warfarin levels vary by so many factors that the last two weeks of data would be almost meaningless?...

 

[Beach77]

I download the app "My INR". so far I've been happy with it.