Is there any alternative to take instead of coumadin?

Question

My mother had a total hysterectomy, because of uterine cancer, over 1 1/2 years ago. After surgery she developed a blood clot in her leg so they put her on coumadin. Now I know it's common to have this happen after a major surgery but I don't understand the purpose of staying on this for so long. I don't believe the clot is there anymore and she doesn't have hyperlipidemia. She has always been into the natural approach with everything until she got cancer. While on coumadin, she has to have routine blood worf to check PT/INR to see if they need to decrease or increase the stuff. As long as I have been in medical, I have never really understood this drug. It's not good for anyone. So has anyone ever heard of an alternative to coumadin? I realize she's have to work closely with a Naturalpath but I would think that would be a much better route to take.

Answer 1

There are some other medications besides coumadin, but coumadin is an old medication that has been thoroughly studied. Sometimes it's best to stick with what has been around long enough for us to know the dangers.

I think herbal and other alternative methods have their place but anti-clotting medications are such a tricky area, I would be reluctant to experiment. If she's having the coumadin closely monitored with lab work, the Dr. is keeping a close eye on it. Many people have stayed on coumadin for decades and done well.

Most of us know that coumadin is a rat poison. I think that gives people the creeps and probably prejudices them against the medication. If people didn't know that, they might not be as put off by coumadin.

Answer 2

My wife is on coumadin for the last 2 years and it works, BUT she has gained over 40 pounds since taking it. She went from 134 pounds to 176 and now has knee problems from the added weight. We are doing new blood work to see if there is a better alternative. I understand about all the data on coumadin, but others have had significant weight gain also and have issues losing.

Answer 3

I know what you mean! Coumadin (Warfarin) is known to be a drug from hell because it has a lot of side effects, and it interacts with damn near everything you take or eat. I know that Heparin is an anticoagulant, but it's taken intravenously. There is also an article that talks about 2 medicines possibly making it to the U.S.A. that hope to replace Coumadin. All the best to your mother and you.

Answer 4

Unfortunately, there are very few reliable alternatives to Coumadin, and it is the best choice for blood clots.
The blood clot may indeed still be present, or your mother's doctor may believe that she is at risk of forming another one. In either case, Coumadin makes it less likely that they will form or grow larger, it can also sometimes shrink clots down.
Unfortunately, because of its action, if she begins to bleed, Coumadin will cause her to bleed more copiously and for a longer time.
Clots can be VERY dangerous; if a piece breaks free, it can cause a stroke, a heart attack, or, most dangerous of all, a pulmonary embolism. Any of the three can result in severe debility, permanent disability, or sudden death.
Your best bet at this point is to talk to the Doctor with your mother present. Ask him his reasoning behind continuing the Coumadin therapy and what he expects to accomplish with it. Ask him about alternatives, or if the Coumadin dose can be reduced by supplementing it with Aspirin, Heparin, Plavix, or other drugs. The Doctor has very good reasons for his choice, but it is legally AND ethically his responsibility to ensure that your mother and her designee understand these reasons completely and thoroughly.

Answer 5

There are injectable blood thinners like Lovenox which is more unpleasant (shots) and is not as easy to regulate therapeutic levels in the body.
Other pills like Plavix and Ticlid are out there too.
Coumadin has been a time-honored way to manage anticoagulant therapy because of it's ability to be measured with a simple blood test and ability to reverse it's effects with Vitamin K.