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Suggest Dosage For Warfarin

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Posted on Fri, 23 Oct 2015
Question: When my warfarin dose is increased above 9mg daily - my shortness of breath increases significantly
Warfarin is prescribed for irregular heartbeat

Last 2 blood tests (inr) gave levels of 6 and 1.9. Do you think the dosage is linked to my shortness of breath?

Than you
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (49 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Not warfarin, its cardiac origin. Switch warfarins to factor X inhibitors

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking

I read your question and i understand your concern. Warfarin is an anticoagulant to prevent complication of arrhythmia and irregular heartbeats like stroke etc and and reduce prothrombotic state in such conditions. it does not treat irregular heartbeats. For that anti arrhythmics or procedures like radiofrequency ablations are done.

Now this shortness of breath is unlikely an adverse effect of warfarin and should be considered for cardiac functions re evaluation. With irregular heart beats, cardiac perfusion studies, echo and ecg etc are needed to make sure heart is pumping adequate as arrhythmias reduce cardiac out put and that causes this shortness of breath. Also this condition may lead to pericardial effusion ( fluids around heart) or pulmonary edema , all of these conditions can cause shortness of breath.

Not shell its not warfarin, its some thing from your heart which needs work up. Apart from it i don't recommend warfarin due to its multiple adverse effects. You should be switched to safer and more potent anticoagulants like rivaroxaban, fondaparinux etc for better and targeted management. That wont even need monitoring of INR so you will be spared from a lot of trouble.

I hope it helps. take good care of yourself and don't forget to close the discussion please.

Regards
Khan
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2012

Answered : 3613 Questions

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Suggest Dosage For Warfarin

Brief Answer: Not warfarin, its cardiac origin. Switch warfarins to factor X inhibitors Detailed Answer: Thank you for asking I read your question and i understand your concern. Warfarin is an anticoagulant to prevent complication of arrhythmia and irregular heartbeats like stroke etc and and reduce prothrombotic state in such conditions. it does not treat irregular heartbeats. For that anti arrhythmics or procedures like radiofrequency ablations are done. Now this shortness of breath is unlikely an adverse effect of warfarin and should be considered for cardiac functions re evaluation. With irregular heart beats, cardiac perfusion studies, echo and ecg etc are needed to make sure heart is pumping adequate as arrhythmias reduce cardiac out put and that causes this shortness of breath. Also this condition may lead to pericardial effusion ( fluids around heart) or pulmonary edema , all of these conditions can cause shortness of breath. Not shell its not warfarin, its some thing from your heart which needs work up. Apart from it i don't recommend warfarin due to its multiple adverse effects. You should be switched to safer and more potent anticoagulants like rivaroxaban, fondaparinux etc for better and targeted management. That wont even need monitoring of INR so you will be spared from a lot of trouble. I hope it helps. take good care of yourself and don't forget to close the discussion please. Regards Khan