Theobromine Fiend!
Well, I huess I’d be a horrihble doctor, cause I find it funny to prescribe rat poison. Of course, I would never prescribe it unless needed, but every time I would say,
“OK, I’m going to get you some rat poisonm k?” 
I’ve been on Warfarin for over two years now. The amount I take varies with my diet, amount of exercise, amount of sleep etc. They draw my blood once a month, then call me back the next day to adjust the med schedule. Currently I am taking 6 mg for five days a week and four the other two days, but that’ll change the next time I test, guaranteed.
I might just be a little pissy from my car accident yesterday and all, but the person in the OP complaining about doctor’s screwing up should be reminded of a few things: 1) it’s spelled Coumadin; 2) if a patient is “confused” at any time about a medication, especially one that is so potent, it is really best if they contact their doctor for correct instructions; and 3) anyone who “always” blames the doctor for things going wrong is a fool.
There are tons of sites on-line regarding medications and their potential side effects. If you are on any prescription medications, find such a site and investigate
for yourself. Be informed, and take responsibility for your own health choices.
A-f’ing-men. A good friend of mine was getting two different instructions re: her Coumadin dosing from two different doctors. It didn’t even occur to her to question them…she just chose the one that “sounded right.” Now, this is a very intelligent woman and even she was duped into thinking that she didn’t have to take personal responsibility for her medical care. Sheesh.
WHOOOOOOOOOSH!
My dosage has stayed the same for 4 years now. But it means monitoring my vitamin K intake every damn day. I can have vitamin K I just have to have the same amount every day.
I did too a few years ago, after developing a DVT in my leg after surgery to repair a broken leg. I was on it for several months, until I had the metal fixator removed, and my dosage varied wildly - anywhere from 1 mg to 10 mg/day. I think my least frequent tests were at 2-week intervals. (And it was weird to have my doctor tell me NOT to eat green leafy vegetables.)
It was amazing how often I, or whoever went to the pharmacy for me, had to educate the pharmacy staff that if dosage varies on a daily basis, I may well need a refill in less than 30 days. Half the time they wouldn’t listen to my doctor’s office about it.
As for people who don’t question their doctors - my grandmother is taking the stuff too, and it didn’t occur to her to call her doctor’s office for several weeks after she started getting huge bruises on her legs. They were painful and turning purple from midcalf down, and it never occurred to her that it might be drug-related. Aaaargh. How can anyone be that passive about her health?
David Simmons, I’m not actually suggesting you switch, because I know nothing about your particular circumstances or condition. Sorry if that was the impression I gave.
Just giving some information comparing warfarin vs aspirin in a particular situation, so that people have a source of evidence based information about the effectiveness of the drug, rather than anecdotal evidence.
It relates ONLY to Atrial Fibrillation, so if it doesn’t apply to you, then fine.
Someone with A Fib might like to know that their risk of stroke is almost halved by taking warfarin as opposed to aspirin though.
(On the note about taking responsibility for your own health, I can’t tell you how many patients who when asked which medications they are taking say things like “I’m on those white tablets for my heart. You know, the white ones”.
Yep, because there’s only one kind of white heart tablet, and I’m psychic and immediately know your dose. :rolleyes: )
The word is that as long as the heart rate regulators keep doing their job aspirin is OK. If the irregularity begins to occur more or less regularly the doctor is going to be insistant on a different blood thinner. And I suspect I’ll (grumble, grumble) go along with it.
I’ve got a mechanical valve, and for the first five years was treated with asprin and persantine, but after a small stroke and a TIA, they moved me to Coumadin. I’ve been on Coumadin/Warfarin for sixteen years now (time does fly, doesn’t it?). A few years ago, I got a spiffy home kit that lets me test my protime myself, with just a finger stick rather than venipuncture. The trickiest part is remembering to do the test regularly.
A home kit! Cool! Does it report your protime or your INR? Or both?
I gotta gets me one of them for my office! At any one time, I’ve got about 2 dozen NEW patients on coumadin, and it’s a PITA using our overnight lab to fine-tune them.
I was just at a medical meeting where they were selling the in-office kits. I think they do give an INR, but I’m not sure if they are CLIA waived.
My personal beef is with insurance companies who substitute generic for brand-name medications. I try to always remember to order brand-name for Coumadin, since too many patients don’t realize that Warfarin is the generic name, and end up taking a double dose, because they take pills from each bottle.
Also, Irishgirl, it’s a really good idea to learn the colors and shapes of some common medications. I certainly don’t know all of them, but for ones that are commonly mixed up, I try to know them. For example, a patient on lanoxin (digoxin) won’t necessarily know if he is taking 0.125 or 0.25 mg (the numbers are too alike) so I know to ask if he is taking the yellow pill (0.125) or the white pill (0.25). Likewise, my patients on micronase (glyburide) can’t always remember if they take 2.5 mg (pink) or 5.0 mg (blue). It certainly comes in handy with patients who don’t read when you can tell them to double the big green football, and cut out the small round pink one. To me, it’s as basic as knowing which insulin is clear and which is cloudy. 
My dad is on Warfarin and a ointment that contains Nitroglycerin. I love going in to the drug store to pick up the rat poision and dynamite.
A little googling indicated that they were CLIA waived and also report the PT and the INR. Now if I could just get a potassium tester that was CLIA waived, I’d be happier.
Best get over it, it’s not gonna change. Too much money to be saved by going for the lower priced versions.
I gave that practice up years ago, due to the constant changes in pill shape, color, size, etc. whenever the supplier was changed.
My division is running a $6 million deficit right now. It would have been $12 million, but changing suppliers for a few key HIV, psychiatric, and Hep C drugs saved us (well, the state taxpayers) $6 million.
Any competent doctor would make sure that the patient understood the correct dosage of any medication he/she prescribes, as well as the possible side effects and contraindications. Most of the doctors I have consulted in the past have not.