Coumadin Usage while on CPAP therapy

[Alicia41964]

I am wondering if anyone has simultaneously been on Coumadin ( blood thinners ) therapy concurrent with their CPAP therapy? I will wait to see if anyone replies before I give my personal experiences. Please feel free to comment.

[6PtStar]

I had a heart attack Sept 08 and they did a bypass. They put me on comadin for a couple of months. I was on cpap at that time. I did not have any problems related to cpap that I can remember. I had to go in every week and have the blood tested because they could not get it regulated. Other than that I can't remember any real problems. Sure did not like it because I bled if I just bumped my hand.

Jerry

[Slartybartfast]

Coumidin = warfarin = rat poison.

Warfarin was an effective anticoagulant used as a rodenticide. In the 1950s it was approved as a "blood thinner."

A few years ago, my Dad was a little careless about taking his meds and ODed on Coumadin and ended up very suddenly bleeding out of every orifice in his body. His punishment was to be endoscoped up (and down) each and every orifice before the Medicine Man would declare him out of danger.

He has since been more careful about taking his meds.

[archangle]

Coumadin is a really powerful blood thinner. It works sometimes when nothing else does. It's saved a lot of lives.

However with great power comes great risk. You've really got to watch your dose on coumadin. Sometimes your body change and not eliminate coumadin from your system as quickly as it did before and your blood will suddenly thin out.

It's sort of like surgery. You'd really rather not cut into your patient. Sometimes it's worth the risk.

[Slinky]

Actually, coumadin is NOT a blood thinner. What it DOES do is reduce the clotting factor(s) in our blood.

That being said, yep, I was on coumadin for 6 months several years ago for a blood clot from a poorly administered IV drug. No problems w/it and INR levels easily determined and maintained. I wasn't on CPAP at that time so that was more than 5 years ago come to think of it.

HOWEVER, a year ago had a few episodes of Atrial fibrillation and was started on coumadin again (plus an anti-rhythmic and a med to slow the heart rate). I've had no problems w/the coumadin - but we sure are having problems stabilizing the dosage and results!!! In 12 months I've been able to go 2 weeks between blood draws three times and one month between blood draws once, other than that it has been weekly blood draws w/my INR level fluctuating like a yo-yo. But no problems w/bruising or bleeding. I'm on a bi-level PAP now.

There is a new med out, Pradaxa, that does not require blood draws to monitor the INR, etc. It is also much more effective than coumadin. However, it does have a higher risk of GI bleed.

[archangle]

Actually, coumadin is NOT a blood thinner. What it DOES do is reduce the clotting factor(s) in our blood.

That may technically be true, but these days, when someone, even a doctor, says "blood thinner," they usually mean something that prevents clotting. "Anticoagulant" would probably be a better term.

[jimnsc]

I was on Coumadin before I ever started XPAP treatment and still am. Come on, Alicia, spill the beans! The suspense is killing me!

[Alicia41964]

Ok everyone, thanks for responding. Knowing that I had been on the rat poison previously, I truly tried to keep an open mind. Of course, I started back on a 10 mg/night dose, so perhaps that had a little something to do with it. I am at 15 mg/night now. Still not therapeutic. Anyways, I have noticed that even with excellent numbers off of my Res Med Elite, I am constantly tired. I nap all the darn time now. I check my cpap numbers daily and I'm still running less then 3.0 events/hour with very little leakage. I am extremely short of breath, cranky and of all things - cold! The only good thing about being cold this time of year in New York is atleast my utility bill will be less ... My drain in the shower, well, I am back to picking up hair out of it. We'll see just how much I continue to lose this time around. Aside from all that, my stay at the "Coumadin Inn" is supposed to be a rather short one. Only 2 to 3 months this time around. Hopefully, it'll do what it's supposed to do with the veins in my leg and I can be done with it once and for all. Just thought I'd see if anyone else was experiencing any of the same issues as I. Have a good night all....

[codinqueen]

Yes, I have been on warfarin since last September when I had multiple bilateral blood clots in my lungs. I have been on CPAP since this past February. I am on 3 mg daily on Mon and Fri, and 4.5 mg daily the other days. I have an INRatio2 macine that I check my INR with. Currently. I check it about once a month. I have had no problems with warfarin and CPAP. My hair is also falling out some since Dr started me on Thyroid and cholesterol meds. It has always been thick, all my life, so doesn't cause too much trouble to lose a little hair- it is cooler that way!

[BlackSpinner]

My father was / is on it since the 70's (or something similar) when he needed an artificial valve in his heart. My mother, the dear tasteful lady, would always say that she knew when the dosage was off because then he couldn't get it up and she would send him off to the doctor.