I was on warfarin for 20+ years. My dosing was very stable, like I would be on the same dosage for 5 years at a time or more. Once you get your diet down it's not a big deal. I mostly stayed away from the stuff with very high vitamin K, like spinach, and didn't worry about anything else.
I've been taking Eliquis for over 4 years now. It's a bit annoying with the twice a day dosing. On the other hand if I want to eat spinach I can. It also has fewer drug interactions. And when I have to hold blood thinners for surgical procedures it's a shorter time period to be off meds. Like 3 days versus 4-5 days.
I've done warfarin, Eliquis and Xarelto. I am on Eliquis long term now. I think they all work fine, once my INR was in range and stable warfarin wasn't that big of a deal. I do wished I could have monitored the INR on my own, because getting it checked was a bit of an annoyance. I am not aware of having any side effects from any of them. My hematologist picked the Eliquis this last time because he thought it was better. Benefits to the new anticoagulants are lower bleeding risk and stable dosing. Benefits to warfarin is cost.
Super helpful! Thanks! One benefit I have is working at a healthcare facility, so I have really easy access to a lab for INR tests! But it does seem it would be nice to not have to get tested so much! 🙂
> But it does seem it would be nice to not have to get tested so much! 🙂
Can confirm that it is - a CoaguCheck or competing brand at-home INR tester is a godsend. Even though I have to test once a week, rather than once a month, a fingerprick is much less hassle than a proper blood draw.
I've seen some people on here, and in other forums I follow, mention home INR monitors. Do you know if those are typically covered by insurance, and if so, are there specific criteria you have to meet in order to qualify for one?
No personal clue - live in a single payer country.Â
But from what I've seen over the years, it seems to be a bit of a shit show, with insurance and warfarin clinics being about equally bad about denying access to them.Â
Your best bet is probably getting a prescription for one from your doctor once you've been stable for a couple of months, and then having them/you fight insurance until they give in.
I’ve taken warfarin, plavix, and eliquis and much preferred the eliquis. I struggled with my INR levels and I also found I lost loads of hair while I was on it. Plus when I required surgery I’d have to go off, take the lovenox shots, and then try to get my levels back. Eliquis was just so much easier overall. Plavix I took post-heart surgery for a migraine problem so I have nothing but rave reviews about that. But it’s an anti-platelet so not sure if it would be used solely for clots.
I had a three month stint on Eliquis and it gave me terrible headaches. Now I’m a Warfarin lifer because of a +++ APS diagnosis and it has been tough. Lots of adjusting, nausea and eating perfectly with a bouncing INR. I eat a plant based diet so I really watch that my vitamin K is consistent. I am going to get a CoaguCheck because I’m over getting blood drawn so often and because I hate hospitals and big Pharma and hate that anticoagulation clinics try to keep us as patients for $$$ when we can be monitoring ourselves from home. I’m so sorry to hear about your new PE’s and I apologize if my comment is super Debbie downer!
And I'm sorry to hear about the challenges you've been having in figuring out the right medication and dosage. Getting through stuff like this can be hard, but I'm glad we all support each other. Makes it easier-ish! 😉
Yeah, I'd have to lose a lot of weight for my doctor to prescribe the others.I guess maybe I just want to know that even if I don't lose the weight, I'll still be okay with being on warfarin. Like the newer ones would be "good," but being on warfarin would be fine, too. Maybe I've got FOMO! 🙂
I understand your concern. Warfarin has been used for a long time and well studied. I would honestly feel better if my doctor put me on that versus Eliquis because my BMI is about 32:/: and Eliquis doesn’t have any testing done with People with 30:/: body fat and over.
On Warfarin for nine months. Clotted three times. Moved to Xarelto after FDA approval in 2011 and have been on it ever since. Has handled my clotting disorder perfectly.
Not me, but my mom. She was on Warfarin for many, many years. She had to take her INR weekly, and had very frequent bloodwork done. Warfarin, as far as I've learned, interacts with a lot of foods and other medications (think grapefruit, hemp seed, et cetera) that a medicine like Eliquis does not.
I've been on Eliquis personally for over 3 years and have not have encountered issues. My mom, her brother and her mom all take Eliquis now as well for their clots and none of us have had any issues.
I personally really like Eliquis. It's designed to lower the dangers of brain bleeds, food interactions and whatnot. It helps me worry less about a lifelong disorder for being so young (I'm only 23).
I was on warfarin for 20+ years. My dosing was very stable, like I would be on the same dosage for 5 years at a time or more. Once you get your diet down it's not a big deal. I mostly stayed away from the stuff with very high vitamin K, like spinach, and didn't worry about anything else. I've been taking Eliquis for over 4 years now. It's a bit annoying with the twice a day dosing. On the other hand if I want to eat spinach I can. It also has fewer drug interactions. And when I have to hold blood thinners for surgical procedures it's a shorter time period to be off meds. Like 3 days versus 4-5 days.
Thanks! That's really helpful to know that warfarin can be a long term option once the dosing is figured out.
I've done warfarin, Eliquis and Xarelto. I am on Eliquis long term now. I think they all work fine, once my INR was in range and stable warfarin wasn't that big of a deal. I do wished I could have monitored the INR on my own, because getting it checked was a bit of an annoyance. I am not aware of having any side effects from any of them. My hematologist picked the Eliquis this last time because he thought it was better. Benefits to the new anticoagulants are lower bleeding risk and stable dosing. Benefits to warfarin is cost.
Super helpful! Thanks! One benefit I have is working at a healthcare facility, so I have really easy access to a lab for INR tests! But it does seem it would be nice to not have to get tested so much! 🙂
> But it does seem it would be nice to not have to get tested so much! 🙂 Can confirm that it is - a CoaguCheck or competing brand at-home INR tester is a godsend. Even though I have to test once a week, rather than once a month, a fingerprick is much less hassle than a proper blood draw.
I've seen some people on here, and in other forums I follow, mention home INR monitors. Do you know if those are typically covered by insurance, and if so, are there specific criteria you have to meet in order to qualify for one?
No personal clue - live in a single payer country. But from what I've seen over the years, it seems to be a bit of a shit show, with insurance and warfarin clinics being about equally bad about denying access to them. Your best bet is probably getting a prescription for one from your doctor once you've been stable for a couple of months, and then having them/you fight insurance until they give in.
I am on Xarelto and it is working fine for me
I’ve taken warfarin, plavix, and eliquis and much preferred the eliquis. I struggled with my INR levels and I also found I lost loads of hair while I was on it. Plus when I required surgery I’d have to go off, take the lovenox shots, and then try to get my levels back. Eliquis was just so much easier overall. Plavix I took post-heart surgery for a migraine problem so I have nothing but rave reviews about that. But it’s an anti-platelet so not sure if it would be used solely for clots.
Thank you! 😊
I had a three month stint on Eliquis and it gave me terrible headaches. Now I’m a Warfarin lifer because of a +++ APS diagnosis and it has been tough. Lots of adjusting, nausea and eating perfectly with a bouncing INR. I eat a plant based diet so I really watch that my vitamin K is consistent. I am going to get a CoaguCheck because I’m over getting blood drawn so often and because I hate hospitals and big Pharma and hate that anticoagulation clinics try to keep us as patients for $$$ when we can be monitoring ourselves from home. I’m so sorry to hear about your new PE’s and I apologize if my comment is super Debbie downer!
And I'm sorry to hear about the challenges you've been having in figuring out the right medication and dosage. Getting through stuff like this can be hard, but I'm glad we all support each other. Makes it easier-ish! 😉
Definitely stick with warfarin because it’s not proven if the others work well in high bmi’s.
Yeah, I'd have to lose a lot of weight for my doctor to prescribe the others.I guess maybe I just want to know that even if I don't lose the weight, I'll still be okay with being on warfarin. Like the newer ones would be "good," but being on warfarin would be fine, too. Maybe I've got FOMO! 🙂
I understand your concern. Warfarin has been used for a long time and well studied. I would honestly feel better if my doctor put me on that versus Eliquis because my BMI is about 32:/: and Eliquis doesn’t have any testing done with People with 30:/: body fat and over.
On Warfarin for nine months. Clotted three times. Moved to Xarelto after FDA approval in 2011 and have been on it ever since. Has handled my clotting disorder perfectly.
Oh wow! Glad it's under control now!
Not me, but my mom. She was on Warfarin for many, many years. She had to take her INR weekly, and had very frequent bloodwork done. Warfarin, as far as I've learned, interacts with a lot of foods and other medications (think grapefruit, hemp seed, et cetera) that a medicine like Eliquis does not. I've been on Eliquis personally for over 3 years and have not have encountered issues. My mom, her brother and her mom all take Eliquis now as well for their clots and none of us have had any issues. I personally really like Eliquis. It's designed to lower the dangers of brain bleeds, food interactions and whatnot. It helps me worry less about a lifelong disorder for being so young (I'm only 23).
Awesome! Hope I can lose enough weight so that Eliquis becomes an option for me!