blood thinners

My PM, Pete, made his check in phone call two days ago and my heart Doctor called today to tell me I am having too many
A-Fibs and I need to start a blood thinner. Years ago I was on Coumadin but it caused some bleeding --so it was stopped.
I do not want to start that again, but I am not up to date on the newest blood thinners. I understand that some of the new thinners make the bleeding harder to stop if you start.
I'll bet there is a lot of good advice out there as to what might be a good choice nowadays.???

11 Comments

Pradaxa

by terrythetech - 2013-03-26 03:03:20

Just went to doc and asked to be off coumadin. They told me because I am still in a-fib the risk of stroke is too high for me to stop. I have daily if not 3 times a day nosebleeds. No time for nose to heal up and it has become real disruptive at home and work. Simply bending over can trip it. Doc said they could put me on pradaxa but it really would do nothing to hepl with the bleeding. They suggested seeing a ent but I have already had a couterization years ago. Device nurse said he has a lot of nosebleeds and ent said to stay away from saline nasal sprays as they actual dry out you nose with the saline. Told me to use vaseline on a q-tip. I'm trying it but although they have not stopped they have slowed a bit. I just dont like warfrin or coumadin at all but they wont take me off it either.
If you find anything else that helps let me know also.
Terry

I am sure that you both will get a lot

by janetinak - 2013-03-26 04:03:42

of other comments but I am seeing ads for at least two other (maybe 3 ) new anti-coagulants on the market now. Maybe if you Goggle the words blood thinners 'may be you'll see the other options.

Hope that helps,

Janet

blood thinners

by Tracey_E - 2013-03-26 04:03:56

If it thins your blood, unfortunately it can cause bleeding. However, with a lot of afib the risk of stroke goes up significantly so the benefits of being on a blood thinner outweigh the negative side effects. I don't know how the new ones compare to the coumadin, but they're all blood thinners so bleeding can be a problem.

Blood thinners

by Jax - 2013-03-26 06:03:14

Well there are other choices. One is Pradaxa. I understand that it does thin the blood and it is not sensitive to other food and vits you also don't have to be tested however if you have a bleeding incident it isn't so easy to stop it.
With Coumadin or warfarin its a shot of vit k but with Pradaxa and xeralto , the other new thinner they haven't come up with a FDA approval for something to stop the bleeding. I k now they are in trials right now but nothing as been approved.

Xarelto

by Matabar - 2013-03-26 08:03:01

Xarelto was FDA approved last year. I was on it for a while with no side effects. Of course, it varies person to person. It's also expensive but worth checking out.
Good luck to you. Carol

I am on Pradaxa

by Nicole33 - 2013-03-26 08:03:17

Hello! I am on Pradaxa and have been for two years. I am also Afib and VTach. I refused to take Coumadin bc of all the limitations. Once pradaxa came along I was put on it. I haven't had a single issue from it AND I can eat ALL the greens, broccoli and vitamin K I desire! :)

Nicole33

Coumadin/Warfarin

by Many Blessings - 2013-03-26 10:03:24

Hi,

I've been on Coumadin/Warfarin since 1987 for A-fib & a mechanical heart valve. I also have stroke history and chronic TIAs from the A-fib, so please do take it seriously.

I'm not familiar with any of the new blood thinners out there, but can tell you, Coumadin and/or Warfarin have saved my life on more than one occasion.

Yes, I have bleeding issues when my INR is too high, and yes, I have had clotting issues when my INR is too low (this is the case for anyone taking it for that purpose). I also have issues keeping my INR in theraputic range on a regular basis (my doctors have struggled with this forever). But, for me the benefits absolutely outweigh the negative side effects. I get my INR checked weekly.

I do not let Coumadin/Warfarin control my life. I do everything I would do if I wasn't taking it. I am more careful when my INR is extremely high, but other than that, I just go on with life.

Just as with any other medication, some people have trouble with Coumadin/Warfarin, others do fine. I'm sure it's the same with any of the new meds out there, but they're worth a shot if you can't tolerate Coumadin/Warfarin.

Do your research, read all of the comments here, talk with your doctors to see what else is out there and how each would work for you, then make your decision with everything you've learned.

Good luck! I know a lot of people will comment with some great suggestions, just like they have above.






Thinner conclusion

by clarencio - 2013-03-27 03:03:53

Thank you all, for the great advice on thinners. After reading your comments and doing some more research I have decided to go back to the coumadin.
It has been over 3 years since I used it and a little bleeding is better than a stroke. Eh! The final determining factor was after talking to my pharmacist
I discovered that Pradaxa and some of the other alternatives to coumadin cost over $300.00 per month.
I sure as heck can't afford that.
As some of you already said,that you didn't let the coumadin interfer with your eating desires, I heard that I can still eat my salads, as long as I balance my blood thinners to adjust for that. Actually, it is eggs I want to eat so I will adjust for that.
Thanks again,
Clarence

Rat Poison

by donr - 2013-03-27 06:03:16

Clarencio: That's what Cpumadin/Warfarin is. It's a powerful anticoagulant, but can be easily controlled if you are vigilant & keep up w/ the monitoring.

I see you are pushing 80 - probably from the top down. No matter what drug you choose, you will need to be vigilant. Nice thing about Coumadin is that it is so easily reversible. If it gets too high, wallow in a huge bowl of steamed baby spinach leaves. My INR got to 7.4 by accident once. Ate 1 1/2 lbs of steamed spinach in a 24 hr period & INR was back down to 3.5 at the end of the period.

The secret is to keep your eating CONSISTANT day to day over about a week's period. If you just happen to like chopped, buttered Kale (Yecht!) eat the stuff; alternate it w/ Collard Greens, Mustard greens, Brussels sprouts, beet greens, tons of cole slaw. Just adjust your Coumadin to the correct INR & keep eating, Just don't invite me for dinner except on the spinach & cole slaw nights. !

According to my Cardio's head nurse, there are no antidotes available for the other anti-coagulants. For Pradaxa, f'rinstance, the only solution in an emergency is Dialysis & that takes time - time to install a port; time to run the blood through the machine. For Coumadin, they just load up the bicycle pump sized syringe w/ Vitamin K, stick on a basketball inflating needle & jab it in the butt. Don't ask how I know, I'll probably lie to you!

Don

Coumadin

by jenny97 - 2013-03-27 09:03:15

I've been on coumadin for about 14 years and have had some bleeding problems and difficulties stabilizing my INR so when the new drugs came on the market, I talked to my doctor about switching. He told me absolutely not because the new drugs are harder to reverse and I've already experienced life threatening. So if you have bleeding problems, you may not be a good candidate for the new drugs. And as others have said, any blood thinner could have the same effect.

As far as your poor nose is concerned, have you tried using a humidifier? If the nosebleeds originate from dryness (maybe from using nasal sprays?), then a humidifier might be helpful.

Best of luck to you!

Thanks donr

by clarencio - 2013-03-28 07:03:11

If I had not already made up my mind to go back to the old Rat Poison ways---I would after reading your letter.
Yes I will be happy to help increase your commisions to the Rodent dispensers. I am almost 82 and something has to help send me to that "great big saloon in the sky"

clarence

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