Diabetes Question Can anyone explain please?

Question

My wife forgot to take her Warfarin tablets (3) one evening this week.

On phoning the Diabetes Clinic next morning for advice and instructions, she was told "DON'T take any Warfarin now WAIT until teatime tonight and take SIX tablets".

Six tablets is a double dose. What is the logic behind this please? Surely it would have been better to avoid the INR "spike" by taking one (or two) tablets straightaway? and then adjusting the dosage at teatime?

Answer 1

since warfarin is an anticoagulant, i really don't think it would be smart to have a double dose of it. it is not a diabetes medicine so maybe the nurse  who gave her the advice was not an expert on that.  

Answer 2

Warfarin is not for diabetes - its a blood thinning agent, she should take the normal dose only.

Rat poison is made of warfarin, it thins the rats blood so much they bleed to death.

Answer 3

Could be something to do with eating a meal when taking them, the lining of the stomach cannot handle some tablets and you get ill if you dont eat with food!  

Answer 4

call again and ask a doctor... CLARIFY about the way you comprehended the instructions... = ) ask them too about why 6 has to be taken by evening....

REMEMBER it is YOUR right to be informed about the treatment that is given to you as patients and it is THEIR responsibility to tell you...

Answer 5

I would seek a second opinion from another doctor just to be sure of the instructions.  Warfarin is a powerful anticoagulant medication, that interferes with the synthesis of vitamin K, and there is no easy antidote.

A blood test to check INR levels will be very important to be sure of the correct dosages.

If your wife is forgetting to take her medication, perhaps some sort of reminder - like setting the alarm, would help.

Answer 6

My husband is on warfarin also and was told by his doctor and the lady who tests his blood in the coag clinic, that if he misses a dose don't take the missed dose and the next dose at the same time. He can take both doses if he misses one 12 hours apart. I would call the warfarin clinic and ask them.  

Answer 7

Never double up on medication if you have forgotten to take them.  Only take what is stated and when it should be taken.

Hope this helps.