Wellness

[mishka14]

Anyone here taking Coumadin for AFib?   What are the side effects that you have with this

medication?

[jaxs mom]

From the Mayo Clinic website

What warfarin side effects should you watch for?

When you take warfarin, your blood won't clot as easily. If you accidentally cut yourself while taking warfarin, you may bleed heavily. However, the risk of a major bleeding event is low.

You're more likely to have bleeding problems if you're older than 75 or take other blood-thinning medications that can further increase your bleeding risk.

You're also at higher risk of bleeding problems if you have:

• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• A history of stroke
• Kidney problems
• Cancer
• Alcoholism
• Liver disease

Some studies suggest that bleeding problems are more likely to occur during the first month of taking warfarin rather than later in treatment.

Warfarin side effects that require immediate medical attention

• Severe bleeding, including heavier than normal menstrual bleeding
• Red or brown urine
• Black or bloody stool
• Severe headache or stomach pain
• Joint pain, discomfort or swelling, especially after an injury
• Vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
• Bruising that develops without an injury you remember
• Dizziness or weakness

Rarely, warfarin can cause the death of skin tissue (necrosis). This complication occurs most often three to eight days after you start taking warfarin. If you notice any sores, changes in skin color or temperature, or severe pain on your skin, seek immediate medical care.

Less serious warfarin side effects to tell your doctor about

• Bleeding from the gums after you brush your teeth
• Swelling or pain at an injection site
• Heavier than normal menstrual bleeding or bleeding between menstrual periods
• Diarrhea, vomiting or inability to eat for more than 24 hours
• Fever

Your Doctor and pharmacist should have discussed the side effects with you though. 

[ruthbe]

Please discuss this more with your physician.  He/she can give you the best information. One thing I can say is please don't forget your follow up lab checks. It tests your clotting time. Helps doctor adjust your dosage if needed.  My mom didn't and that is when she got into problems.  So just listen to your physician.  Best of luck to you.

[dubll2011]

 My DH has afib. Has had it for many years. He bruises easily and his arms are all marked up. He has to go off the med before invasive type medical procedures. It all worked well until 2012 when he went off the warfrin  before tests for open heart surgery. Only off it a short while. Had a stroke. Turned out to be mild. Affected his speech, but within hours it recovered. Dr kept him in the hospital until his surgery so they could monitor his inr. He feels the risk of a stroke is  too great to not take it. Good luck.

[hckynut]

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@mishka14 wrote:

Anyone here taking Coumadin for AFib?   What are the side effects that you have with this

medication?

---

@mishka14

I have never suffered A-fib, but have been on both sides of bad things that can happen when on Coumadin/Warfarin. Had 2 episodes of PE(lung blood clots) and 2 heart attacks. I was on it for the PE prior to and during the times of my 2 heart attacks.

Was on it for a very long 7+ years and though I did not feel usual side effects, many feel with certain meds, I spent most of those 7+ years having full blood draws, on average, 3-4 times every week. Many weeks I had to have it drawn all 7 days. Those numbers(INR and ProTime) are very critical numbers for bleeding and/or having dangerous blood clots.

You should have a very serious talk with your prescribing physician about how important these numbers can be. As I said, I was on both bad sides of Coumadin. Numbers get too high? Danger of bleeding out. Numbers too low? Life threatening PE/Clots and DVT. This is 1 med that nobody should take lightly. Extreme INR/ProTime numbers are very dangerous and should be kept within a certain range, which is decided by your prescribing physician.

My post is not to scare anyone, it is to stress the importance of getting the required blood numbers decided by your physicians. Follow through with all of his/ her requests getting these blood reading numbers.

Best to you,

hckynut(john)

[faygi]

Six years ago I was told I had A-Fib and was put on warfarin. They put me in the hospital to regulate the Warfarin. After about a week or so after I went home I had a couple of blood tests done and all was well with them. After the third or fourth time the phone rang the next A,M. which was a Sat. and I was out shopping at the time and the Dr. called and told my husband to immediately contact me and tell me to get to the nearest hospital ASAP. SO I did and I spent five days in the hospital . I feel I was given too high a dosage of the Meds to take. Who really knows. Was in the hospital again for three days with the same problem happening. I guess it was the way my body responded to the Meds. Finally thereafter all went well. After two years the Dr, took me off the Warfarin and said that I was doing so well on my other bloodwork counts and just continue to take two baby aspirin a day. That was almost seven years ago and I have been fine. I do follow a decent diet and watch my food intake which I never did before that so I personally believe that losing weight helped me get off that medicine. That is just my own opinion.

[CelticCrafter]

When my m-i-l was diagnosed with it the doctor put her on Coumadin.

It got to a point that if you so much as touched her with a feather she would bruise.

She's on Xarelto now.

[mishka14]

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@CelticCrafter wrote:

When my m-i-l was diagnosed with it the doctor put her on Coumadin.

It got to a point that if you so much as touched her with a feather she would bruise.

She's on Xarelto now.

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thanks CelticCrafter...how is she doing on the Xarelto?   I am really not comfortable taking the Coumadin....seems too many bad things can happen...but my Dr. is pushing me to take a blood thinner,  I need to decide which one to take...

[hckynut]

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@mishka14 wrote:

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@CelticCrafter wrote:

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thanks CelticCrafter...how is she doing on the Xarelto?   I am really not comfortable taking the Coumadin....seems too many bad things can happen...but my Dr. is pushing me to take a blood thinner,  I need to decide which one to take...

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@mishka14

Xarelto/Pradaxa and Eliquis are all fairly new blood thinners. None of them come without risk. Your Cardiologist is the best one to make that decision based on your specific health history and your problem with A-Fib.

I have given too many negatives about blood thinners and I do not come to this forum to make anyone fearful of taking any prescription drug. Again, all the above blood thinners, come with certain risk factors, as do many other meds. These factors however can have very serious effects, and different individual's body reacts differently to them.

My suggestion is you read in depth about all of the ones mentioned tor your own personal knowledge. Your Cardiologist knows your specific A-Fib issue. All A-Fib does not effect everyone's body the same way. This involves the whole function of all ones Cardiovascular System, not just 1 part of it.

I have given my personal opinion on all the blood thinners here in the past, along with which one I prefer should I ever find it necessary to take them again.

Mine is a very long story when it comes to why I no longer take any blood thinner, and it has nothing to do with A-Fib, so I will leave that part out of this thread.

hckynut(john)

[Trinity11]

It must be very individualized. I have Afib after 2 heart attacks within a year. I have been taking Plavix and a baby aspirin daily...I still have had a few episodes on the EKG but so far so good.

All blood thinners do make you bruise quicker but they vary in side effects. Good luck with finding one that is appropriate to your individualized care.