Re: Vitamin E/Coumadin

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/28/2001 10:34:44 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

Failteg@... writes:

<< Wow....it's tough

enough finding a multivitamin without vitamin K and without

iron......now I have to look for one without vitamin E.

>>

I have taken 400 I.U.'s of vitamin E for about ten years, initially because a

doctor suggested it, and didn't stop when I started Coumadin two years ago.

My doctors did ask about over-the-counter vitamins and other meds I am taking

and have approved the vitamin E. It may be the reason that my INR is always

between 2.5 and 3.0 when I am only taking 2.5 m.g. of Coumadin five days a

week and 5 m.g. twice a week. I don't think you would have to stop taking

the vitamin E, Ellen, but just be sure your Coumadin dose is adjusted

according to the INR numbers to accommodate the Coumadin.

in Seattle

[Guest guest]

Good Morning :

Good thought! I just switched to a new multivitamin which has 400 IU of E

in it. I'm due for my usual PT next week, and I will bring this to his

attention.........Your right, I'll keep taking the E.

Taking the *same* multivitamin (E) daily would work out fine. However. I

have a tough time with the K veggies; it's hard to be consistent with the

K. In healthier days, there were times when I would eat broccoli twice a

week and wouldn't eat it for another couple of weeks; times when I would eat

cabbage three times a week and then not eat it for a another few weeks; same

with lettuce, and on and on and on.

Coumadin Dosage: The past two weeks, I have been on 6 mg for six days and no

Coumadin on the 7th day.

Since Afib, we have had to make many new adjustments in our

lifestyle.........I guess it's better than the alternative.

Wishing you NSR,

Ellen

***********************

Re: Vitamin E/Coumadin

(snip) I have taken 400 I.U.'s of vitamin E for about ten years, initially

because a

doctor suggested it, and didn't stop when I started Coumadin two years ago.

My doctors did ask about over-the-counter vitamins and other meds I am

taking

and have approved the vitamin E (snip)

************************

[Guest guest]

There are many drugs/supplements which affect the INR, up or down. Examples are

Prednisone (up), Diflucan (up) and Imuran (down). The trick is having a doctor

or Warfarin clinic which understands the interactions and can adjust the

Warfarin. I have my Pro Time done weekly for just this reason because of drugs

for other conditions. When I get to a point when I am not using these other

meds or am on a consistent dose, then the labs can be spread out. It is a pesky

problem, but there is no reason why you would have to stop Vitamin E. The

Vitamin K does have a dramatic effect and you can easily get the multiple

vitamin without K, but E seems to be a staple.

Barry -Corte Madera, CA

Re: Vitamin E/Coumadin

In a message dated 7/28/2001 10:34:44 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

Failteg@... writes:

<< Wow....it's tough

enough finding a multivitamin without vitamin K and without

iron......now I have to look for one without vitamin E.

>>

I have taken 400 I.U.'s of vitamin E for about ten years, initially because a

doctor suggested it, and didn't stop when I started Coumadin two years ago.

My doctors did ask about over-the-counter vitamins and other meds I am taking

and have approved the vitamin E. It may be the reason that my INR is always

between 2.5 and 3.0 when I am only taking 2.5 m.g. of Coumadin five days a

week and 5 m.g. twice a week. I don't think you would have to stop taking

the vitamin E, Ellen, but just be sure your Coumadin dose is adjusted

according to the INR numbers to accommodate the Coumadin.

in Seattle

[Guest guest]

> There are many drugs/supplements which affect the INR, up or down.

Examples are Prednisone (up), Diflucan (up) and Imuran (down). The

trick is having a doctor or Warfarin clinic which understands the

interactions and can adjust the Warfarin. I have my Pro Time done

weekly for just this reason because of drugs for other conditions.

When I get to a point when I am not using these other meds or am on a

consistent dose, then the labs can be spread out. It is a pesky

problem, but there is no reason why you would have to stop Vitamin E.

The Vitamin K does have a dramatic effect and you can easily get the

multiple vitamin without K, but E seems to be a staple.

>

Barry,

> Interesting to hear that your blood INR is only checked once a week.

We have a two per week schedual, Mondays and Thursdays, although mine

has been stable for the last 3 weeks with no adjustments required 4mm

a day. I wonder what frequency of INR testing other members of the

group who are on Coumadine have. Might be an interesting poll question.

Best Wishes

> Barry -Corte Madera, CA

> Re: Vitamin E/Coumadin

>

>

> In a message dated 7/28/2001 10:34:44 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

> Failteg@m... writes:

>

> << Wow....it's tough

> enough finding a multivitamin without vitamin K and without

> iron......now I have to look for one without vitamin E.

> >>

>

> I have taken 400 I.U.'s of vitamin E for about ten years,

initially because a

> doctor suggested it, and didn't stop when I started Coumadin two

years ago.

> My doctors did ask about over-the-counter vitamins and other meds

I am taking

> and have approved the vitamin E. It may be the reason that my INR

is always

> between 2.5 and 3.0 when I am only taking 2.5 m.g. of Coumadin

five days a

> week and 5 m.g. twice a week. I don't think you would have to

stop taking

> the vitamin E, Ellen, but just be sure your Coumadin dose is adjusted

> according to the INR numbers to accommodate the Coumadin.

> in Seattle

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/29/2001 5:06:13 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

Failteg@... writes:

<< In healthier days, there were times when I would eat broccoli twice a

week and wouldn't eat it for another couple of weeks; times when I would eat

cabbage three times a week and then not eat it for a another few weeks; same

with lettuce, and on and on and on. >>

Hi, Ellen,

Yes, I think consistency is the key even if it's boring. As you say,

changing lifestyle to keep afib under control is much better than the

alternative. As I talk to my friend who has breast cancer, I realize that

the lifestyle changes we make are rather insignificant compared to the

upheaval caused by chemotherapy.

Like you, I used to eat the vitamin K vegetables at random intervals. Now I

try to keep my intake the same every day by eating one vitamin K veggie a

day. My Protime test is once a month, and the INR is usually somewhere

between 2.5 and 3.00. For some reason, it seems to rise a bit in the summer

even if everything remains the same. On the two occasions when the INR has

changed rather drastically, I have had the tests at two or three week

intervals. I think the key is balance: you have to balance out the thinning

agents such as vitamin E with the clotting agents such as K and balance the

Coumadin dose accordingly. To do that, I find that I must eat a rather

boring diet. When I go to restaurants, I'm certainly not as adventurous as I

formerly was. Always in the back of my mind when I eat something is the

thought: What effect will this have on my INR? I'm used to it after two

years, and I'm not complaining. It's a small price to pay, I feel. I do

hope you can get your INR stabilized, but I'm glad you aren't giving up on

the vitamin E. I think it's important for many reasons: antioxidant action,

prevention of fibrocystic disease, and heart benefits.

Well, I am still in afib as I type this, but at least I don't have to worry

about that dental anesthetic throwing me into afib tomorrow when I have my

root canal. I'm already there in afib and not nearly as nervous about that

anesthetic, thanks to the wonderful people who shared their root canal

experiences with me.

Let us know how your INR turns out.

in somewhat sunnier and warmer Seattle.

[Guest guest]

When I was off all meds which could affect the INR, the interval was up to 4

weeks. I think a Poll might be interesting, but the testing necessarily varies

depending on a bunch of factors including the medication issue I discussed

earlier (and deleted to shorten this message). It may also be a geographical

issue, i.e the standard medical practice in a certain area in the US or other

countries. (This is one of the reasons why I like to see where someone is

from)

Barry -Corte Madera, CA (Just north of San Francisco)

From: brianhh@...

To: AFIBsupport

Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2001 9:03 AM

Subject: Re: Vitamin E/Coumadin

Barry,

> Interesting to hear that your blood INR is only checked once a week.

We have a two per week schedual, Mondays and Thursdays, although mine

has been stable for the last 3 weeks with no adjustments required 4mm

a day. I wonder what frequency of INR testing other members of the

group who are on Coumadine have. Might be an interesting poll question.

Best Wishes

[Guest guest]

HI,

I was put on coumadin about 3 weeks ago. For the first two weeks I

had my inr tested twice a week. Now my dr. tells me it is o.k. to go

to once a week. I take 5.5 mg. and my inr was 2 at the last test.

What is the usual dosage of coumadin? Is it weight dependent? I weigh

about 145lb. I live on Vancouver island, Canada. Leo

>

> When I was off all meds which could affect the INR, the interval

was up to 4 weeks. I think a Poll might be interesting, but the

testing necessarily varies depending on a bunch of factors including

the medication issue I discussed earlier (and deleted to shorten this

message). It may also be a geographical issue, i.e the standard

medical practice in a certain area in the US or other countries.

(This is one of the reasons why I like to see where someone is from)

>

> Barry -Corte Madera, CA (Just north of San Francisco)

>

> From: brianhh@m...

> To: AFIBsupport@y...

> Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2001 9:03 AM

> Subject: Re: Vitamin E/Coumadin

>

>

>

> Barry,

> > Interesting to hear that your blood INR is only checked once a

week.

> We have a two per week schedual, Mondays and Thursdays, although

mine

> has been stable for the last 3 weeks with no adjustments required

4mm

> a day. I wonder what frequency of INR testing other members of the

> group who are on Coumadine have. Might be an interesting poll

question.

> Best Wishes

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/29/2001 9:18:46 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

joks@... writes:

<< What is the usual dosage of coumadin? Is it weight dependent? >>

Leo,

I think the dosage of Coumadin is determined more by what you eat and what

other medications or vitamins you take. If you eat lots of leafy green

vegetables, you need more Coumadin because the vitamin K in those veggies is

a clotting agent which counteracts the anticoagulant effect of the Coumadin.

Probably a typical dose, if there is one, would be about 5 m.g. per day.

However, the dose will vary for the same individual over a period of time, so

I doubt that it's related to weight. I started out on 5 m.g. daily but now

am on 2.5 on 5 days a week and 5 on 2 days per week. My dose has changed

several times in the two years I have been taking Coumadin.

in Seattle

[Guest guest]

The amount varies widely from person to person even without the influence of

meds/foods/supplements which may require adjustment. I think height and weight

have little to do with it. I am 6'6 " tall and weigh abut 275 pounds. My dosage

right now is 3 mg. for 5 days and 4 for 2 days. It has varied, but I get by

well with the 3 mg. tabs. That is 23 mg. per week. The variables are why the

level has to be monitored so closeloy. Maybe a poll on this issue would be of

interest with the data being the number of mg. per week since the daily dose can

vary.

Barry --Corte Madera, CA (Just north of San Francisco)

Re: Vitamin E/Coumadin

HI,

I was put on coumadin about 3 weeks ago. For the first two weeks I

had my inr tested twice a week. Now my dr. tells me it is o.k. to go

to once a week. I take 5.5 mg. and my inr was 2 at the last test.

What is the usual dosage of coumadin? Is it weight dependent? I weigh

about 145lb. I live on Vancouver island, Canada. Leo

[Guest guest]

Good Morning Barry:

A Coumadin Survey is presently pending in the *Poll* feature of our

Board. You can reach our Polls by clicking the work *Polls* in the

left hand column of your screen, or just click below. Once in there,

the Coumadin Survey is approximately half way down the list; just

click on the topic and there you be <g>

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AFIBsupport/polls

We encourage our members to cast their votes; and to create their own

Poll. If you would like to see something other than the choices

listed in that particular Poll, please feel free to create your own.

We welcome all our members to add to the *creating your own Poll*!

Ellen

(rainy NC USA)

**********************

(snip) A poll on this issue would be of interest with the data being

the number of mg. per week since the daily dose can vary.Barry

--Corte Madera, CA (Just north of San Francisco)

***********************

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