Troubles keeping my INRs consistant.

Joined : 18 Dec 2007 Posts : 1

Hmmm, three weeks ago my INR was 2.9 and yesterday it was 1.6, I just hate having to cut my pills (warfarin 2.5) in halves, most of the time they shatter in dust. I have been very constent with my vitamine K intake (spinach, lettuce, broccoli...) and still my INR fluctuates. Are there other things that will make my INR be like this?

BTW, what do people use to cut their pills in halves? scratch

Subject: Re: Troubles keeping my INRs consistant. Thu Dec 27, 2007 10:50 pm

If you vary the ammount of water you drink every day, it might affect your INRs study

coffe and alcool dehydrates you for example. The secret of it all, is consistency.
For cutting my pills I use a sharp and skinny knife. Insert in the indent of the pill and apply pressure, do not saw. That's the way I do it.

Subject: Re: Troubles keeping my INRs consistant. Fri Dec 28, 2007 10:52 pm

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I'm always reading, I found this on the net, http://www.ptinr.com/data/templates/article.aspx?a=278&z=2
Atkins diet (Low carbs high protein diets) do affect your INR , again check with your doctor or warn him/her if your thinking on starting a Atkins diet.

Joined : 31 Dec 2007 Posts : 1

the standard advice in the UK is that you should absolutly never cut a warfarin pill, because you cannot guarantee the exact dose. Instead, the doctors can prescribe a warfarin 0.5 mg pill (white in the UK).

Subject: Re: Troubles keeping my INRs consistant. Wed Jan 02, 2008 3:39 pm

Guess I'll have to check with my doc on that.

Thanks Tom

Subject: Re: Troubles keeping my INRs consistant. Mon Jul 21, 2008 8:44 am

There is nothing wrong with halving a dose of Coumadin. That is exactly why the pills are scored. In addition, some people in the U.S. can't afford to have every possible combination of Mg's, so 5mg, being the most typical, are used as 5 or 7.5 etc. It's very unlikely that a minor deviation in pill splitting is going to do a thing to your INR.

If you pills are shattering when you attempt to break them in half, they are either old, been exposed to moisture, or bootlegged. I've had one bad batch in 6 years.

Subject: Re: Troubles keeping my INRs consistant. Mon Jul 21, 2008 10:16 pm

You can get a cheap pill splitter at the pharmacy..it uses a razor blade to cut the pills and it has a "V" shape that you put the pill in and you get a pretty accurate dose. Doesnt cost over a buck or two. Well worth it. Smile