what are the risks of having too high levels of coumadin (warfarin)?

Question

What are the dangers of having high levels of coumadin (warfarin)?

Answer 1

The dose that works.: There is no exact upper limit to Coumadin (warfarin) although the most I have seen someone need is about 12mg daily. Because Coumadin (warfarin) is so closely monitored with blood tests the right answer is the limit is the dose that gets you to your goal inr. Some people are genetically "coumadin resistant" and need much higher doses and people with high vitamin k diets also need higher doses.

Answer 2

Yes: An occaisional beer should not be an issue for patients taking coumadin (warfarin). Excessive alcohol consumption, which can lead to bleeding in the stomach and liver dysfunction should be avoided because these problems will be compounded by coumadin (warfarin).

Answer 3

Yes: Yes if it is small amounts of alcohol taken occasionally. Large amounts of alcohol can decrease effects of Coumadin (warfarin) and make you more likely to develop blood clots, it also can increase risk of GI bleeding.

Answer 4

Should not: Coumarin is take for certain medical problems and it works by thinning the blood to prevent blood clots. It works by inhibiting certain blood clotting factors. As soon as one stops taking the coumarin the blood regains it's usual clotting abilities. It usually takes about 48 to 72 hours to replenish these factors leaving no long term side effects.

Answer 5

Not really: The major side effect of Coumadin (warfarin) is bleeding from too much or getting another blood clot from too little. As long as your INR is between 2-3 and stays that way, you risk of bleeding or further clotting should not change--no matter how long you take it. Once you are off of Coumadin (warfarin) for 5 days or less, its effects should be gone, as dr. Penba said.

Answer 6

No: I can find no report of a drug interaction. You should be aware that many products marketed as hoodia actually have no hoodia in them.

Answer 7

Yes: Hoodia inhibits the cyp3a4 pathway, a common metabolic pathway for pharmaceuticals. In addition, there can be competition for protein binding which allows more of drug to be active. Recommend - use herbals cautiously or not at all with warfarin. May make control of anticoagulation even more difficult than it already is.

Answer 8

Bleed: Coumadin (warfarin) is rat poison. It is used as an anticoagulant for certain medical conditions. The levels are closely monitored by your doc. Too much can thin you blood and could cause you to bleed and lose a lot of blood with its own consequences.

Answer 9

Bleed: You can have a serious bleeding problem, long time ago before it became a life saving medicine it used to be a rat poison, of course the doses were too high for rats and they were bleeding to death.

Answer 10

Brand/generic: Coumadin is the brand name for warfarin. Warfarin is the generic name for the same drug.

Answer 11

Semantics: All drugs have a generic name, which is assigned to the molecule that has the pharmacological effect in the body, and a brand name that is proprietary to a specific drug manufacturer. Warfarin is the generic name for the anti-coagulant that inhibits vitamin-k dependent clotting factors; "coumadin" is simply the brand name of the formulation made by a specific manufacturer.

what are the risks of having too high levels of coumadin (warfarin)?

Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers — it's anonymous and free!

90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:

Similar questions

Can you drink occasional beer while taking coumadin/warfarin?

Do the side effects of Coumadin (warfarin) build up over time? Are there long term side effects?

Does hoodia interfere with coumadin/warfarin?

What happens if you take too much coumadin (warfarin)?

What is the difference between Coumadin and warfarin?

Related questions

90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:

People also asked

Disclaimer:

Get the free app for Members

Get the free app for Doctors