If A Patient Has A Normal INR But The Doctor

Posted on Fri, 27 Dec 2019

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 27 Dec 2019 Answered on

Last reviewed on

Question : If a patient has a normal INR but the doctor thinks they have an INR over 12 (lab error) and gives them vitamin K to reverse warfarin, how can you reverse the effects of the vitamin K?

Answered by Dr. Indranil Ghosh (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
By increasing dose of warfarin

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.

In that case, we need to check the INR post vit k. Depending upon that we need to increase the dose of warfarin for 1-3 days with frequent checking of INR.

After stabilization, we can go back to previous dose.

Hope this helps.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Indranil Ghosh (15 hours later)

If the lab result is on the wrong patient, and the patient who got the vitamin K is not on warfarin at all, would you give warfarin to stop clotting? Is there a clotting risk with a high dose of vitamin K?

Answered by Dr. Indranil Ghosh (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Not required

Detailed Answer:
In that case, nothing needs to be done. No excess clotting risk will be there.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng