My mother is on a anticoagulant (Warfarin) and I'm worried about her.

[Kasbah]

I recently learned that she has to take it and it seems like a VERY scary drug. It's dangerous if you miss one dose. She also wants to lose weight but apparently hard exercise wouldn't be good for her heart. At the same time, being over weight will also probably increase her chance of something like a heart attack (I pray to God not), but to lose weight she'll need to exercise, so I ask you:
Should I be worried?
Will you ever in life not need to take it anymore?
Will she have a shortened life?

Please help me. Please, she means the world to me.

[Brandy K]

There's not much to worry about. There's a lot of people currently on chronic dosage of coumadin to prevent angina and MI. It is something that she'll need to take for the rest of her life unless something new comes out. One key thing to note, however, is that if she misses a dose, she must not double the dose next time, as this is very dangerous. As long as she is able to adhere to the prescription instructions and get regular routine blood workup, she should be fine. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that for any future doctor's visits for any reason, if there's something that she's going to need medication for, make sure that the hospital or doctor is aware that she is on coumadin. A lot of drugs have drug-drug interactions with coumadin that can increase its metabolism to an inactive form, resulting in it being less effective. Make sure the doctors know that she is taking this drug.

[ellie]

Coumadin (warfarin) is a very common anticoagulant drug, used if someone has had a stroke, heart attack, or deep vein thrombosis, to make clotting in the blood vessel system less likely (to avoid a clot in the heart, brain, etc.). While it is a lifesaver, it is also scary, just as you describe.

Perhaps you need to reframe it for yourself. Because she's on coumadin, now, your mother will be VERY closely monitored. While she's "getting used to it," she'll go in frequently to have her coagulation (clotting) tested--the MD will increase or decrease the coumadin until she becomes "steady" at the value he wants. After that, she'll go in less often, but will still be checked monthly, probably.

It's a life-saving drug, that MANY people are on (you'll be amazed, if she shares it with others, how many will respond that they are on it, too).

Here's an article for you. You might encourage your mother to wear a bracelet that says she's on coumadin, so that "first responders" will be alert for the possibility of hidden bleeding if she's in an accident (God forbid). Notice the dietary recommendations (avoid grapefruit; easy on the broccoli, etc.). http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-4069-Coumadin+Oral.aspx?drugid=4069&drugname=Cou

It's not that she cannot exercise (unless there is something else going on). She'll need to work with her physician regarding low impact exercise--perhaps swimming.

Whether she's on it forever depends on what she's taking it for. My husband has a history of stroke and heart attack; he's on it for the duration. Again depending on what she's taking it for, NOT taking it (and having the stroke, heart attack, etc.) could shorten or end her life; so taking it is more likely than not to extend it.

Besides, she's got you! ) Best wishes.

[Kasbah]

Thanks everyone for all your helpful replies.