I take about 6 - 8mgs of Warfarin a day following my aortic valve replacement surgery. I have been told not to have more than two small glasses of wine at any one time. Needless to say, this isn't always easy to live with - especially at summer barbeques. What would happen if I exceeded this allowance? How hazardous would it be to my health? We only really ever drink at weekends but I could easily manage a whole bottle by myself over the course of an evening.
2006-07-15 01:48:58 · 24 answers · asked by The librarian 5 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Heart Diseases
Sexxychick - I was born with this condition and nothing I did or do exacerbated it. And how would you know what "landed me in this position"? I do not drink to excess - a bottle of wine is the most I consume. I take my health seriously (which is why I ask this question). You really mustn't make assumptions like that. It's so offensive and I'm sure it wasn't your intent to offend :0)
2006-07-15 09:02:09 · update #1
I want to say thank you to you all for taking the time and trouble to write. What a great bunch of people and what great advice. I'm worried you all think I'm some kind of dipso though I assure you I'm not! I'm a 45 year old mum of 3 who tries to do her best and likes a glass of wine on a weekend in her own back garden, I'm not going round the clubs getting hammered lol For you medical types my average INR since October is 3 which is where it should be I'm told. But I will be following your advice since you were all so kind as to offer it. My doctors didn't explain a lot to me after surgery. I was never told not to have cranberries for instance and until this question didn't know it was Vitamin K I need to avoid. I was also put onto painkillers which were making me ill and went "cold turkey" after only 2 weeks after being told by a doc to just stop taking them with no withdrawal. After a night of HELL he said that's because you stopped the tablets! But most are brilliant. THANK YOU!
2006-07-15 20:57:55 · update #2
Acute ingestion of alcohol will decrease the metabolism of coumadin, causing the INR to increase. Chronic (daily) alcohol ingestion induces live enzymes that accelerate the metabolism of coumadin, causing the patient to require more coumadin.
A couple of drinks at a summer barbecue isn't a problem---it'll thin your blood a little more. A whole bottle by yourself in one night is a bit excessive and you may get into trouble. Not only will your blood be thinner, but you won't have the usual coordination that you have and may hurt yourself. Try alternating nonalcoholic drinks with your glasses of wine.
2006-07-15 02:42:04 · answer #1 · answered by Amy P 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Alcohol And Warfarin
2016-12-14 04:05:34 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry to hear you needed that surgery, My father has always had heart trouble and takes Warfarin. The reason you are not to exceed the alcohol limits the doc gave you is because warfarin is a blood thinner. So is the alcohol. Mixed in excessive amounts could in fact thin your blood so much that you can Hemorage and die.
How long are you going to need to be on the Warfarin? Maybe asking your doc if you can illiminate taking it on the weekends or about 3 days before you know you'll be having a party and or drinking? 6 to 8 mg's of this per day is a pretty fair amount of Warfarin (warfarin is also the active ingrediant in Rat poison by the way) Personaly I would seek an alternative blood thinner.
You really must advise with your doc on this though because its your heart and your blood pressure your asking about here. Therefore if you do things not according to his specifications you can end up in real big trouble.
I wish you a wonderful summer and hope all works out for the best.
2006-07-15 02:00:04 · answer #3 · answered by o_isee_u812 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Warfarin And Alcohol
2016-09-30 10:58:51 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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RE:
Warfarin and alcohol - advice please!?
I take about 6 - 8mgs of Warfarin a day following my aortic valve replacement surgery. I have been told not to have more than two small glasses of wine at any one time. Needless to say, this isn't always easy to live with - especially at summer barbeques. What would happen if I exceeded this...
2015-08-16 18:50:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, consistency is key with Coumadin (warfarin). I am on it for life and everything needs to be consistent. So, I do not recommend binge drinking personally.
From the FVLeiden Question and Answer Section answered by Dr. Moll, Hematologist from UNC-Chapel Hill:
Alcohol and warfarin (coumadin®)
Last Updated: 4/24/06
Q: “Does alcohol intake increase the INR?”
A. I am not aware of any study that has looked in detail at the influence of alcohol intake on the INR in patients on warfarin (coumadin®).
I am aware of only 2 studies that somehow address the issue of alcohol and INR (references 1 and 2). Both studies showed that individuals who drink alcohol are not more likely going to be over-anticoagulated, i.e. have INRs above 6.0, than individuals who do not drink. In one of the 2 studies (reference 1) this was true even for individuals who drink heavily. However, these studies did not address the question whether alcohol intake actually has an influence on the INR values. The interaction between alcohol consumption and warfarin therapy is said to be complex. A review article (reference 3) concluded:
Intermediate use (2-3 drinks per day) probably does not alter the INR at all.
Intermittent large amount of alcohol drinking leads to an increase in INR, because the alcohol interferes with warfarin metabolism, i.e. warfarin is metabolized less rapidly.
Chronic heavy alcohol intake results in a decreased INR, because the alcohol actually increases the metabolism of warfarin.
Personal comment:
I typically tell patients on warfarin (coumadin®) who drink mild to moderate amounts of alcohol (1-2 glasses of wine or 1-2 beers per day), that such alcohol intake is likely o.k. from a clotting and bleeding point of view.
References
Penning-van Beest FJA et al: "Lifestyle and diet as risk factors for overanticoagulation". J Clin Epidemiol 2002;55:411-417.
Hylek EM et al: "Acetaminophen and other risk factors for excessive warfarin anticoagulation. JAMA 1998;279:657-662.
Buckley NA et al: "Drug interactions with warfarin". Med J Aust 1992;157:479-83.
2006-07-15 05:34:34 · answer #6 · answered by hello 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi insimple terms if you take alcohol infrequently and in low dose it is as a rule unlikely to have a bearing however a larger acute dose of alcohol ( the bottle you cite)can effectively switch off the break down of warfarin which means you can end up getting too much.What is more small amounts of alcohol can in certain individual have a more pronounced effect that could lead a doctor to decrease your warf. dose in response to a higher than expected inr.This could lead to under anticoagulation.Chronic alcohol usually makes us breakdown warfarin quicker which means you need more unless your liver is really shot in which case you may have ahigh inr any way.My best advice is to avoid alcohol(and the other vitamin k containig meds/foods youve been told about) as from the end of the bed it is very difficult to guess what alcohol will do to the inr.Perhaps volunteer to be the dedicated driver?A doctor
2006-07-15 02:03:04 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The anti-coagulant control of the warfarin will be altered by major changes in the consumption of alcohol so if you go out for a big binge session then basically your at risk of clotting or even bleeds in the other instance. Couple of glasses of wine would be ok. Everything interacts with warfarin
2006-07-15 01:56:53 · answer #8 · answered by Paul 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
warfarin is a blood thinner, as is alcohol. to combine the two could be lethal if you were to have a nasty accident and cut yourself. you could either be extra extra careful when you have a binge, and let the people you are out with know what you are taking, so they could keep a look out for you also. or could you leave your warfarin out on the day you are having a drink ? read the leaflet about your warfarin to see if this would be possible. take care anyway and enjoy yourself !
2006-07-15 02:02:16 · answer #9 · answered by DEANA 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I gave up wine for a month and my level went down to 1.2 (as though I wasn't taking Warfarin)!
Nobody had advised me on this-so back on the vino and the level is now exactly what it should be.
2014-10-26 00:31:39 · answer #10 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋