Hi,
My doctor wants to start me on Coumadin as a blood thinner . I just got out of the hospital after having a bad afib attack . They tried to electric shock my heart back into rythim but it didn't work . Has anyone had any bad experiences on Coumadin? What do you all think would be the best and safest blood thinner to take ?
Thanks
Hi,
The couldn't get my heart back into rithym either, it's been 2 years now, I still take warfarin because I refused any change due to side effects from quite a few drugs I was given, I haven't had any problems with warfarin apart from the blood tests which are once a month and it's only a prick in a finger now the machine comes up with the results right away. I think it's up to you if you have had any problems with any of the medicine you are given. Also google it to see what side effects it can have.
Hope this helps.
If you can afford it and your insurance approves, there are newer and better blood thinners than Coumadin that don't have dietary restrictions and don't require monitoring. They are eliquis, Pradaxa, and a couple of others (ask your doc). Pradaxa is the only newer one at this time that has a reversal factor but the others are due to come out with a reversal soon. I've been on eliquis for a year with no problems.
In the hospital they gave me pradaxa on . the day I was being released I started to bleed so they took me off of that right away . I have to wait a couple of days before I start the warfarin . Do you have to go to the lab for the blood test or do they give you a machine ?
Warafin is really a pain with all the monitoring and dietary restrictions. Ask your doc if he would try eliquis for you if the Pradaxa was a problem.
I just don't like the fact that there isn't any antidote for most of the newer blood thinners . I know pradaxa has one but the response time could take up to 3 hours to work, where as warfarin has an immediate antidote.
I've been on Pradaxa for 9 months, so far so good, fingers X. So,hope this one is ok for you. Sending best wishes to,you.