Warfarin ?

[KENZ]

I have a relation on Wafarin and since taken the prescribed medicine he has become breathless. Previous to this he was on Aspirin for many years. However some bright spark at the NHS picked up on this and said he shouldn't be on this long term. So it got switched. He also receives kidney dialysis.

Unfortunately the breathlessness is affecting his daily life. When he brings this to the attention of the doc. He says they are not related. Thoughts, anybody with experience with Warfarin?

[The_Doc]

Warfarin therapy at correct dose won't make you breathless. It interferes with the Vitamin K portions of the clotting cascade and stops your blood clotting.

You either bleed with it, or you don't.

[nail_it]

Breathlessness is unrelated to Warfarin

[Paul Dishman]

Agree its not Warfarin that's making him breathless. Does his GP say anything else about the breathlessness?
Is he being treated for it?

[The_Doc]

you'd have to have quite a large haemothorax to be breathless, so it is possible I guess.

Usual rules: this is PH, go see a doctor. Urgently if you're ill.

[nw28840]

I am on warfarin and will be for life.

I have had 2 x bi-lateral pulmonary embolisms ( several blood clots on both lungs each time ).

The warfarin does not make you breathless , it just controls your blood clotting levels.

Get them to go see a Doctor , the only signs of the clots in my case were extreme breathlessness which helped me recognise I was in trouble the second time.....the first time I just dropped unconscious with no warning. I had been feeling rough for a while beforehand (breatlhlessness, fatigue etc...) but just put this down to a flu virus !

[Turn7]

Another warfarin lifer here - 3 DVTs, one of which went PE.

Warfarin doesn't affect any part of my daily life apart from frequent blood tests for INR.

[KENZ]

Thanks for your help guys. It's my father who is the patient. His blood is getting checked weekly so that the correct dosage is administered. As far as I can gather they are still investigating as to what caused this change. They are also taking a lot of water off him during dialysis and this has left him looking very thin.

[The_Doc]

KENZ said:

Thanks for your help guys. It's my father who is the patient. His blood is getting checked weekly so that the correct dosage is administered. As far as I can gather they are still investigating as to what caused this change. They are also taking a lot of water off him during dialysis and this has left him looking very thin.

Dialysis !!

You could have mentioned that !

Excess water makes you breathless. Dialysis is the cure if necessary

[KENZ]

My father has had dialysis for 5 years. This breathlessness only started when he was switched to warfarin and now when he gets dialysis they take more and more water off which has left him very thin. The breathlessness has only slightly improved with the removal of water.

[Ruskie]

Any COPD or heart problems?

[KENZ]

Think it was a heart scan he had recently. Not sure whether he's received the results.

[KENZ]

Speaking with my mother. Maybe someone can correct me here. But the nurse said you need to drink plenty of fluids when on Warfarin?

If this is correct he is not doing this as he has to reduce his water intake for dialysis?

[The_Doc]

KENZ said:

Speaking with my mother. Maybe someone can correct me here. But the nurse said you need to drink plenty of fluids when on Warfarin?

If this is correct he is not doing this as he has to reduce his water intake for dialysis?

he should drink exactly what the dialysis/renal team suggest he does. Nothing about taking warfarin needs extra water. But if you need dialysis then you might not be able to get rid of your own water. Overload (too much drinking) could be a big problem

His renal team should have spelt all this out