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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Should I Take Warfarin On Alternate Days After Having The Side Effects?

I suffered a hemi stroke 6 years ago, and have been taking warfarin ever since, but am tired of feeling cold and having a tightness feeling in the front and back of my chest. Is it safe for me to take the warfarin every other day, instead of every day, or to stop taking it altogether.
posted on Thu, 13 Mar 2014
Twitter Fri, 27 Jun 2014 Answered on
Twitter Fri, 27 Jun 2014 Last reviewed on
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Psychiatrist,  's  Response
HI THANKS FOR QUERY.THIS QUERY OF YOUR REQUIRES SPECIAL EXPLANATION.SINCE YOU SUFFERED A HEMISTROKE 6 YEARS ,YOU NEED TO BE PLACED ON LONG TERM ANTICOAGULATION TO PREVENT FURTHER EPISODES OF STOKE,DEEP VEIN THROMBOSES, HEART ATTACKS.THE BEST GUIDE TO MONITOR THE WARFARIN REQUIREMENT IS BLOOD I.N.R.(INTERNATIONAL NORMALISED RATIO).A PATIENT ON WARFARIN SHOULD IDEALLY HAVE TARGET INR OF 2.5 ( RANGE 2-3).....THE INR SHOULD NEVER EXCEED 4.0, AS IT CONFERS NO SPECIAL BENEFIT....A ELEVATED INR CAN PREDISPOSE TO BLEEDING EPISODES....HENCE I RECOMMEND YOU TO GET THE I.N.R. TEST AT THE EARLIEST.....ONLY THEN THE WARFARIN DOSE AND DURATION OF THE REGIMEN IS DECIDED.GENERALLY WARFARIN IS GIVEN FOR 3 MONTHS AND INR IS TESTED FOR FURTHER ACTION. AN ALTERNATE DAY REGIMEN AS YOU FELT IS HIGHLY UNSCIENTIFIC AND NOT TO BE FOLLOWED.CONSULT YOUR NEUROPHYSICIAN FOR FURTHER INFO.THANK YOU.